a]
Whales should
be viewed

® e

in the wild

Deur Editor:

Congratulations to Bob Hunter
for his article on the untimely
Geath of Hyak, the killer whale.
His words will no doubt anger the
Vancouver Public Aquarium and
people who think it is their right
to have large sea mammals con-
fined in small pools.

But the fact that he was the
oldest living captured whale and
died when he reached little more
than one third of his natural
Efespan iv the wild should be
enough evidence that orcas are not
meant to be kept in captivity.

As for those who argue tie
point that they are kent for scien-

tific and educational purposes
there has been a wealth of infor-

mation gathered from the wilc.

You don’t have to be a resear-
cher, or even own a boat, to view
these magnificent creatures in the
wild. A day sper.t at the whale
watching site on San Juan Island
will reward the patient watcher
with one or more sightings each
day during the summer months.

To see a pod of 20 or more
whales swimming and playing free
together in the wild is a sight you
won’t soon forget, and aiter such
an experience you will only feel
great sadness for those who have
lost their freedom and swim
aimlessly in circles performicg the
same tired routines for the
amusement of people.

Lee Waison
North Vancouver

Captivity is a
learning tool

Dear Editor:

Learning from whales in cap-
tivity is an exceptional way to fur-
ther our human understanding of
these magnificezt mammals. Nat-
ural behaviors are observed and
interpreted in the Vancouver
Public Aquarium whale pres-
entation —- it’s not a show!

In the education programs,
school children discover the con-
nections between the marine
mammals, their environments and
themselves.

They also realize that the future
of the whales depends on protec-
tion of their food sources and the
ocean ecosystems.

Through discovery and under-
standing of these fascinating
mammals, comes an_ increased
sensitivity, plus a desire to live
harmoniously with the marine en-
vironment we all share.

N. Sexsmith
West Vancouver

Abolish all
animal cages

Dear Editor:

Congratulations to Bob Hunter
for his very excellent article on
Hyak the killer whale (North
Shore News, Feb. 24).

isn’t it time that. steps were
taken to abolish all facilities that
allow the caging of animals for
public viewing?

Professional photographers, and
wildlife artists provide a far
pBreater understanding of the
animal kingdom than any zoo or
aquarium because they show
animals in their natural habitat
and not in some ill-smelling con-
crete enclosure.

Bruce L. Box
North Vancouver

Friday, March 15. 1991 - North Snore News - 7

Aquarium staff respond to Hunter

to $1,000,000 on
research and educational

Dear Editor:

With regard to Bob Hunter's
column of Sunday, Feb. 24, we
are compelled to correct some
myths and misinformation.

Mr. Hunter writes ‘‘Hyak’s
dorsal fin was bent over, a clear
symptom of stress and ill health.
In nature, an orca’s dorsal sticks
straight up.’’ This statement is
absolutely false.

First, the cutward appearance
of a killer whale’s dorsal fin, a
Structure largely composed of
connective tissue, contains no vital
organs and gives absolutely no in-
dication of the overall health of
the animal. The main reasons that
the appearance of the dorsal fin
varies from individual to individ-
ual is two-fold.

In killer whales, the size of the
dorsa! fin is a secondary sexual
characteristic, like a man’s beard.
Mature males develop a_ tail,
higher aspect dorsal fin than the
shorter, sickle shaped fin of the
females. Why some bend over is
thought to be the result of a com-
bination of hydrodynamic forces
and simply gravity.

Presently, there are two known
killer whales in the wild popula-
tion of B.C. with dorsal fins
which lay virtually right on their
backs. Both these animals have
been observed and studied
repeatedly over many years by
credible researchers, with no

health implications noted as a
result of bent fins.

Mr. Hunter also persists in ap-
plying flawed arguments to the
issue of longevity. He states,
among other things, that ‘In
nature ... a male orca can live up
to 70 years,’’ and ‘‘It remains that
Hyak lived far less than half as
long as he would have in the
wild.’? According to the most re-
cent paper by Peter Olesiuk,
Michael Bigg and Graeme Eilis, of
the Pacific Biological Station in
Nanaimo, entitled ‘‘Life History
and Population Dynamics of Res-
ident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)
in the Coastal Waters of British
Columbia and Washington State’’
published by the International
Whaling Commission, Special
Issue 12, these are the facts:

1) the maximum longevity of
male killer whales in the B.C.
population is thought to be in the
range of 50-60 years.

2) the average life expectancy
for males is 29.2 years.

3) neonate (newborn) mortali-
ty in killer whales on our coast is
high, and registers about 43 per
cent. In fact, newborn killer
whales have just over a 50 per
cent chance of surviving past their
first six months.

Most importantly, maximum
longevity and average life expec-
tancy are two entirely different
things. For example, humans have

a maximum longevity of some 110
years, but an average life expec-
tancy closer to 75 years. The fash-
ion by which Mr. Hunter and his
cohort Peter Hamilton of
Lifeforce manipulate these
statistics is simply invalid.

Mr. Hunter also implies that he
and Hamilton —- ‘‘laymen’’ by his
own description — were able to
detect illness when aquarium
spokesmen and veterinarians
couldn’t.

In Hyak’s case, results of his
blood analysis and overall de-
meanor were not indicative of the
grave nature of his illness.

Highly qualified veterinary pro-
fessionals were involved in the
care, diagnosis, treatment and
autopsy investigations relating to
Hyak. Mr. Hunter's aspersions on
their professional ability and in-
tegrity are unacceptable, and we
challenge him to justify his
remarks.

Mr. Hunter also. states
‘Aquariums capture whales and
dolphins for one reason only, and
it certainly has nothing to do with
science or increasing public
awareness about the need to pro-
tect animals.’

Here again, are the facts.

The Vancouver Aquarium
Association is a_ registered,
private, self-supporting, non-
profit society. In 1990, the
Aquarium Association spent close

scientific
pro-
grams. Many scientific papers
were published by Aquarium
researchers and research associates
in recognized academic journals in
1990. A full list is available upor
his request and, as always, will be
published in the Aquarium
Association’s Annual Report. In
addition, over 14,006
schoolchildren participated in
Aquarium education programs in
1990 alone.

For the highly dedicated staff
and volunteers of the Vancouver ~
Aquarium and for our numerous
colleagues and associates
throughout the world, the innu-
endc Mr. Hunter uses is extremely
disconcerting. Husbandry prac-
tices, veterinary and_ scientific
knowledge, and methods of public
education can always be improv-
ed. Over the years, we have striv-
ed to mect these goals, and in the
process have kept the Vancouver
Aquarium at the fore.

We are proud of our record,
and the people who have and con-
tinue to be associated with our in-
Stitution.

K. Gilbey Hewlett, General Cu-
rator and Aciiig Director,

John Ford, PhD., Curator ef
Marine Memmals,
Jeff Marliave,
Scientist,
Vancouver Public Aquarium

PhD., Senior