4 ~ Sunday, August 25, 1991 - North Shore News Setting free the captive Orcas THE LONG nightmare of confinement for the orcas trap- ped in the Vancouver Aquarium and Sealand in Victoria might just possibly be coming to an end. Could ‘aere ac- tually be light at the bottom of the chiorinated tank? This may be unfounded op- timism on my part, but I do believe the conditions now exist for a phasing-out of the trade in live **killer whales."’ With a bit of momentum, it can be made to happen. But, first, a cautionary note. Calling the great dolphins “killer whales’* is a serious mistake. It plays right into the hands of the people who profit from their exploitation. It is best to develop the habit of thinking of them as orcas. ft is also useful to consider that one of the reasons orcas have played such a prominent role in aquarium advertising ever since they were first captured is because a largely-ignorant public was titillated by the idea of a ‘‘kifler’’ whale, in the same way they are titillated by the idea of a “*man- eating”’ lion. Orcinus orca is merely the larg- est of the dolphins. Advertise a ‘killer dolphin?"’ It.is to laugh. The use of the term ‘‘killer whale’’ has been, pure and simple, a hype. There had never been a single recorded incident of an orca hurting a human, even when they were shot at. At ieast that was the track re- cord until Feb. 20, when 20- year-old Sealand trainer Keltic Byrne slipped underwater and was drowned when the big dolphins started playing with her, refusing to let her come up for air. As anybody who has had a per- sonal encounter with a dolphin can aftest, the creatures know precisely when you need more air. The death of Keltie Byrne therefore could not have been an accident. The orcas — unless they simutaneously suddenly lost all their sensory data — killed her de- liberately. As Dr. Paul Spong points out, having killed, these orcas must now be considered a threat to Bob Hunter | human life. Selling them to another aquarium should be out of the question, especially since other aquariums — those few that are still open — generally encourage trainers to get into the water with the orcas. When I say ‘‘those few that are still open,’’ Lam referring to the fact that scores of places with “trained dolphins”’ in the U.K. have been closed down — some 28 out of about 30, | believe. In New South Wales, Australia, a simiiar phenomenon has occurred. The growth industry of the moment in the field of live captive cetaceans is the release-program aspect of it all. The reason? Mainly because the British and New South Wales governments decided, after taking a hard look at several fly-trap “dolphinariums,”’ that the condi- tions the creatures were living under were appalling. If the facili- ties couldn’t be upgraded con- siderably, the owners would face stiff penalties. Not too long ago, Niagara Kite flyers invited to compete A KITE flying contest.is among the many events planned for this year’s Coho Festival. Sponsored by the Howe Sound Lions Ciub, the free event will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Sun- day, Sept. 8, at West Vancouver’s Ambleside Park; judging will follow at 3 p.m. All. participants will be pres- | K ented with a ribbon and a number of kites will also be given away, along with flying instructions. First-prize ribbons and $25 cash prizes will be awarded in the fol- lowing categories: best homemade flying kite, most unique flying kite, largest flying kite, best stunt kite flyer and smallest kite. For more information call 922- 4084 or 926-0124. ICK IT! Over 20 models of soccer boots from Patrick, Adidas, Diadora, Mitre, Nike and Puma on sale now. We also carry a full selection of accessories, shin guards, goalie gloves and knee pads. ISKYLINE SPORTS@ NORTH VANCOUVER 119 West 16th Street 985-9161 : KERRISDALE 5395 West Boulevard 266- 1061 STRICTLY PERSONAL Falls’ Marineland, which has five orcas, suffered the indignity of a bust in Atlantic City when a plane chartered by the owners to fly some dolphins suspected of having been captured in Cuban waters up to Canada had to {and to refuel. U.S. Customs seized the dolphins and flew them back to the Carib- bean. Any connection between these events and what has been happen- ing in Victoria and Vancouver would seem coincidental, except to the extent that British, Australian and American officials are reflec- ting a public mood identical to what has clearly emerged on the West Coast as well. The huge drop-off in attendance at the Vancouver Aquarium is a fact of life. Blaming the recession is too easy. Other zoos and aquariums, similarly affected, are already recovering. I see nothing wrong with the other conclusion, namely that at- tendance is down because the public is finally turned off by see- ing magnificent creatures forced through hoops, obviously starved into submission. It is the conclusion of Sealand vice-president Deane Strongitharm, who, upon an- nouncing the end to Sealand’s live “killer whale’? shows, admitted that the public no longer approves of orcas in captivity. There is another factor at work, of course. In the case of Sealand, Oak Bay Workers’ Compensation officials got involved after the death of Byrne, demanding pro- teclive barriers and setting strict limits on the actions that could be taken by trainers. Sooner or later, the Vancouver Aquarium would have faced similar limitations. Peter Hamilton of Lifeforce remains suspicious that Aquarium officials will try to re-activate their orca shows the moment the chance arises, and is especially Ch ylvan helps students to succeed Through a variety of programs and teaching techniques Sylvan Leaming Centres help students to reach their full potential, increase their skills, and build their confidence. All students, even the brightest ones, lack learning skills. The dual purpose of supplementary education is to fill in leaming gaps in certain subjects and, most important, to help children acquire study habits that will serve them for a lifetime. Sylvan Achievement Programs: Reading -~ Designed to teach young emergent readers word analysis skills, oral reading, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. 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