Captivity Kills: Stop The Russian Orca Captures
The Issue
Please help us stop the cruel capture and confinement of Russian orca calves!
This petition calls for the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency to permanently stop issuing capture permits for the orcas that inhabit the Sea of Okhotsk. Additionally, we ask that they require facilities (including the TINRO-Centre) currently holding captured orcas rehabilitate and release them back into their native waters. Failing that, they should surrender the orcas to the care of suitable rescue organisations (such as the Dolphin Project or the Born Free Foundation) who have experience reintroducing captive cetaceans into the wild. Our concern is based primarily on three reasons:
1) There is insufficient data on the current population of orcas in the Sea of Okhotsk, this could mean current captures are detrimental to the wild population and thus unsustainable. In fact many Russian scientists, the state ecological commission, and the Far East Russian Orca Project have warned against captures for this population.
2) Such captures have proven to be incredibly cruel, AT LEAST 5 orcas have DIED since 2003 because of Russian capture operations. Most likely from drowning in nets after succumbing to panic and exhaustion. Due to the incredibly strong family bonds orca pods have, the forced separations of young calves is inhumane and potentially traumatic.
3) Over the past few decades we have learnt through research, general observation, experience, and the work of numerous marine biologists, that captivity is severely detrimental for orcas. Confinement negatively impacts their psychological and physical well-being (as will be discussed in further detail). For these reasons captivity for these creatures is inhumane.
Please sign this petition to help stop these brutal captures and save countless orca calves from a miserable life sentence and a slow and painful death.
Russian version:
Пожалуйста, помогите остановить жестокий отлов косаток в России!
Данная петиция призывает Российское Федеральное агентство по рыболовству прекратить выдачу разрешений на отлов косаток, обитающих в Охотском море. Кроме того, мы просим, чтобы организации, содержащие косаток в неволе в настоящее время (в том числе ТИНРО-Центр) взяли на себя обязательства по реабилитации и возврату животных в их естественную среду. В противном случае, они должны сдать косаток на попечение соответствующих спасательных организаций (таких, как Dolphin Project или Born Free Foundation), которые имеют опыт благополучного возврата китообразных в дикую природу. Наше беспокойство о косатках, обитающих в Российских водах, основано, как минимум, на трех причинах:
1) В настоящее время популяция косаток в Охотском море еще мало изучена. Отсутствие точных данных о численности и составе дикой популяции этих животных не дает оценить вред, наносимый текущим отловом, который может поставить под угрозу существование этих млекопитающих в водах Охотского моря. На самом деле многие российские ученые, государственная экологическая комиссия, а так же сотрудники проекта по изучению дальневосточных косаток (Russian Orcas Project) предупреждали об опасности отлова животных данной популяции.
2) Отлов косаток в Российских водах являет собой невероятно жестокий и грубый процесс. По крайней мере 5 косаток умерли с 2003 года в операциях по отлову на Дальнем Востоке страны (как правило, животные тонули в сетях). Из-за невероятно сильных семейных связей разлука детенышей с их матерями и сородичами крайне болезненна для всех членов стаи.
3) Исследования, наблюдения последних десятилетий, опыт и работы многочисленных морских биологов доказывают, что содержание в неволе губительно для косаток. Лишение этих животных их естественной среды обитания негативно сказывается на их психологическом и физическом благополучии (далее это будет обсуждаться более подробно). По данным причинам содержание этих разумных и чувствительных существ в неволе не является гуманным.
Пожалуйста, подпишите эту петицию, чтобы помочь остановить жестокий отлов и спасти бесчисленное количество детенышей косаток от несчастной жизни и медленной, мучительной смерти в неволе.
------------
Please see below a full description of the issues pertinent to the capture and confinement of orcas:
Forced family separations, death, and population decline as a result of captures:
The first capture of a wild orca was in 1961, and ever since that fateful and historic day, over 160 orcas have been captured to fill barren tanks around the world. Today, only 23 orcas captured from the wild remain in captivity. 13 of those orcas were taken from Russian waters within the last 3 years.
There is insufficient data on the current population of orcas inhabiting the Sea of Okhotsk. The current data does not give an accurate reflection of the orca population. The research did not distinguish between fish eating (resident type) orcas, and mammal eating (transient type) orcas. The two are genetically distinct and have not interbred for at least one hundred thousand years. Thus it is inaccurate to regard them as belonging to one population, it is also very dangerous; without knowing the exact population size of the two distinct groups we cannot determine how numerous each population is in these waters. It could be the case that one population is far more numerous whilst the other is much smaller and is thus at danger of being negatively impacted by wild captures. The current captures seem to be acquiring transient (mammal eating killer whales), without knowing the exact population number of transients we cannot determine whether this population depletion is sustainable.
It is feared that captures based on such insufficient data could result in the population being made endangered or severely threatened, a repeat of the devastating impact killer whale captures had on the Southern Resident orca population of the Pacific Northwest. Although data at the time carried out by the captors estimated the SR orca population to be around thousands, in reality it was much lower. The taking of at least 45 individuals from this population effectively wiped out a whole generation (killer whales born between 1967 and 1970) and depleted their numbers by a staggering 30%. This contributed to the SR orcas being driven to the point of extinction. Today they’re still classed as endangered.
Such captures In Russian waters could have similarly devastating effects on the killer whale population.
The Far East Russian Orca Project believes killer whales in the Sea of Okhotsk are captured in a similar manner to belugas. A pod, or several pods, are netted, the net is drawn tighter and tighter until the pod is essentially immobilised. Then young calves are selected and roped, they’re then dragged by their tails into shallow water where they can be wrestled into a harness and put into a truck for transportation. Orcas are incredibly sensitive and intelligent cetaceans with a sense of self. Such captures would be emotionally traumatising, not to mention the ropes and nets could cause severe cuts, broken dorsal and pectoral fins, and even drowning. Witnesses of past captures in the pacific northwest recall the orca pods screaming and screeching during the process, thrashing against nets, trying desperately to get to stolen family members (even drowning in their attempts), refusing to leave the site of capture, and even following vessels to remain with their captured family member.
Thus, current captures are likely to have a similarly traumatic effect.
The immense physical and psychological suffering of captive orcas:
Premature death: At least 162 orcas have died in captivity, not including 30 miscarried and still-born calves. In the wild, orcas have an average lifespan of 30 years for males and 50 for females, despite the supposed high standard of veterinary care and feeding that they receive in captivity, only one of the deceased orcas managed to reach the average lifespan of its wild counterparts. Along with a reduced lifespan in captivity, captive orcas also suffer from a range of health issues.
Oral degradation: It is common for captive killer whales who have been separated and isolated to bite down on the horizontal metal bars of their gates, or to ‘jaw-pop’ through the gates as a display of aggression towards one another. In addition, under-stimulated and bored animals have a tendency to chew on metal bars and rub their teeth on concrete corners like the main stage and slide outs. This is evidenced by tooth fragments that can sometimes be found on the bottom of pools following these displays. As a consequence, the breakage leaves the pulp of teeth exposed which allows for decay, causing a cavity that leads to food plugging; if left untreated the killer whales own immune system will create inflammation and eventually a focus for systematic infection.
To try and avoid infection, captive orcas are subjected to painful dental procedures where holes are drilled into their teeth (pulpotomy) using a variable speed drill. This hole must then be flushed three times a day. The whole procedure is performed WITHOUT using any PAIN RELIEF causing the orca to suffer a great deal during the procedures, during which they will often squeal, shudder and shrink away from the person performing the procedure. Orcas only get one set of teeth to last a lifetime, which are highly durable, yet in captivity almost all orcas have broken, ground, drilled or missing teeth. The chronic pain caused from poor dental health causes many captive orcas to participate in the destructive behaviour of grinding down the jaw itself, leaving the orca with little or no teeth.
Chronic dehydration and unnatural diets: Captive orcas suffer from chronic dehydration due to their frozen fish diet, which has a lower water and nutrient content than fresh fish. Transient orcas, like those held captive in Russia, can suffer more drastically from the diet of frozen fish, as fish are not naturally a part of their diet. Historically, captive transients have STARVED after being unsuccessfully forced to eat fish. In fact, it is rumoured that three captive transient Russian orcas were on the point of starvation before a fellow captive (Narnia) directly brought them food and dropped it into their mouths to encourage them to eat.
Obsessive regurgitation: Regurgitation has only ever been recorded in captivity, it’s a stereotypical behaviour caused directly by the stress, frustration and boredom of being held captive in an abnormal environment. The stomach acid they regurgitate damages the lining of their oesophagus, it can also further degrade already damaged teeth.
Increased aggression: Due to the fact that orcas in captivity are forced to live in artificial pods that do not meet their natural needs, excessive aggression is an issue that affects the life of every captive orca. Extensive rake marks are a common sight in captivity. Along with rake marks there have been many serious injuries from fights between captive orcas, even a fatal incident which resulted in the death of Kandu V who was nursing a young calf at the time. In the wild, orcas have strong social bonds and structure which prevent them from committing acts of serious violence against one another. Although wild orcas do occasionally rake each other, they can escape confrontations into the near limitless amount of space the sea offers, unfortunately, captive orcas do not have this freedom and so are forced to endure this brutality. Additionally, in the wild more submissive members will stay on the periphery of the pod where they can easily avoid aggressive altercations. In contrast, submissive captive orcas have little chance of escape from domineering pod mates. Orca calves below the age of 5 are still socially dependant on their mothers and matriarchs, this means their socialisation process whereby they learn important social skills such as coexisting peacefully with pod members and displaying socially acceptable aggression only when required. Thus separating them from their birth pods when they’re calves can create socially abnormal orcas that over aggressive and form poor bonds with pod members.
Stereotyped behaviours: If the animal cannot satisfy their natural repertoire within the confines of their artificial habitat, they may try to ease the resulting tension by forming stereotypical behaviours such as: head bobbing, pacing or circling, lethargy, receding into comatose-like states, self-mutilation, biting on gates and bars, chewing at the environment and vomiting. In an attempt to control these behaviours, orcas are given drugs ranging from antipsychotics to benzodiazepines.
Forced separations: Whether the separation is across a gate, country or even the world, orcas do not take well to it. Mothers and calves are the most common victims of separation. Calves are moved based purely on the husbandry and economic needs of the marine park. The full extent of these devastating separations on their mental state is still unknown, although antipsychotics have been used to calm grieving mothers following separation from her calf. Orcas are highly intelligent and social animals that have a whole section of the brain designed purely for the purpose of processing emotion. It is thus believed that they form family bonds that are perhaps even stronger than those humans form.
At least 13 orcas are currently being held captive in Russia, they've all been captured from the wild within the last three years. They will all suffer immensely from everything mentioned above unless immediate action is taken to save them.
As previously stated, we politely request that the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency terminate all current capture permits and stop issuing future permits for cetaceans. We also request that all captive facilities currently holding wild caught Russian orcas rehabilitate and release these whales.
If this cannot be achieved through reasonable means by the aquarium, we request that they surrender their animals to an appropriate welfare organisation that can oversee their rehabilitation. These requests are specifically aimed at TINRO’s Seaside Dolphinarium, Moskvarium and any other facilities in Russia that currently holding captive orcas or have plans to do so in future.
All facts stated correct at time of writing - October 2015.
The Issue
Please help us stop the cruel capture and confinement of Russian orca calves!
This petition calls for the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency to permanently stop issuing capture permits for the orcas that inhabit the Sea of Okhotsk. Additionally, we ask that they require facilities (including the TINRO-Centre) currently holding captured orcas rehabilitate and release them back into their native waters. Failing that, they should surrender the orcas to the care of suitable rescue organisations (such as the Dolphin Project or the Born Free Foundation) who have experience reintroducing captive cetaceans into the wild. Our concern is based primarily on three reasons:
1) There is insufficient data on the current population of orcas in the Sea of Okhotsk, this could mean current captures are detrimental to the wild population and thus unsustainable. In fact many Russian scientists, the state ecological commission, and the Far East Russian Orca Project have warned against captures for this population.
2) Such captures have proven to be incredibly cruel, AT LEAST 5 orcas have DIED since 2003 because of Russian capture operations. Most likely from drowning in nets after succumbing to panic and exhaustion. Due to the incredibly strong family bonds orca pods have, the forced separations of young calves is inhumane and potentially traumatic.
3) Over the past few decades we have learnt through research, general observation, experience, and the work of numerous marine biologists, that captivity is severely detrimental for orcas. Confinement negatively impacts their psychological and physical well-being (as will be discussed in further detail). For these reasons captivity for these creatures is inhumane.
Please sign this petition to help stop these brutal captures and save countless orca calves from a miserable life sentence and a slow and painful death.
Russian version:
Пожалуйста, помогите остановить жестокий отлов косаток в России!
Данная петиция призывает Российское Федеральное агентство по рыболовству прекратить выдачу разрешений на отлов косаток, обитающих в Охотском море. Кроме того, мы просим, чтобы организации, содержащие косаток в неволе в настоящее время (в том числе ТИНРО-Центр) взяли на себя обязательства по реабилитации и возврату животных в их естественную среду. В противном случае, они должны сдать косаток на попечение соответствующих спасательных организаций (таких, как Dolphin Project или Born Free Foundation), которые имеют опыт благополучного возврата китообразных в дикую природу. Наше беспокойство о косатках, обитающих в Российских водах, основано, как минимум, на трех причинах:
1) В настоящее время популяция косаток в Охотском море еще мало изучена. Отсутствие точных данных о численности и составе дикой популяции этих животных не дает оценить вред, наносимый текущим отловом, который может поставить под угрозу существование этих млекопитающих в водах Охотского моря. На самом деле многие российские ученые, государственная экологическая комиссия, а так же сотрудники проекта по изучению дальневосточных косаток (Russian Orcas Project) предупреждали об опасности отлова животных данной популяции.
2) Отлов косаток в Российских водах являет собой невероятно жестокий и грубый процесс. По крайней мере 5 косаток умерли с 2003 года в операциях по отлову на Дальнем Востоке страны (как правило, животные тонули в сетях). Из-за невероятно сильных семейных связей разлука детенышей с их матерями и сородичами крайне болезненна для всех членов стаи.
3) Исследования, наблюдения последних десятилетий, опыт и работы многочисленных морских биологов доказывают, что содержание в неволе губительно для косаток. Лишение этих животных их естественной среды обитания негативно сказывается на их психологическом и физическом благополучии (далее это будет обсуждаться более подробно). По данным причинам содержание этих разумных и чувствительных существ в неволе не является гуманным.
Пожалуйста, подпишите эту петицию, чтобы помочь остановить жестокий отлов и спасти бесчисленное количество детенышей косаток от несчастной жизни и медленной, мучительной смерти в неволе.
------------
Please see below a full description of the issues pertinent to the capture and confinement of orcas:
Forced family separations, death, and population decline as a result of captures:
The first capture of a wild orca was in 1961, and ever since that fateful and historic day, over 160 orcas have been captured to fill barren tanks around the world. Today, only 23 orcas captured from the wild remain in captivity. 13 of those orcas were taken from Russian waters within the last 3 years.
There is insufficient data on the current population of orcas inhabiting the Sea of Okhotsk. The current data does not give an accurate reflection of the orca population. The research did not distinguish between fish eating (resident type) orcas, and mammal eating (transient type) orcas. The two are genetically distinct and have not interbred for at least one hundred thousand years. Thus it is inaccurate to regard them as belonging to one population, it is also very dangerous; without knowing the exact population size of the two distinct groups we cannot determine how numerous each population is in these waters. It could be the case that one population is far more numerous whilst the other is much smaller and is thus at danger of being negatively impacted by wild captures. The current captures seem to be acquiring transient (mammal eating killer whales), without knowing the exact population number of transients we cannot determine whether this population depletion is sustainable.
It is feared that captures based on such insufficient data could result in the population being made endangered or severely threatened, a repeat of the devastating impact killer whale captures had on the Southern Resident orca population of the Pacific Northwest. Although data at the time carried out by the captors estimated the SR orca population to be around thousands, in reality it was much lower. The taking of at least 45 individuals from this population effectively wiped out a whole generation (killer whales born between 1967 and 1970) and depleted their numbers by a staggering 30%. This contributed to the SR orcas being driven to the point of extinction. Today they’re still classed as endangered.
Such captures In Russian waters could have similarly devastating effects on the killer whale population.
The Far East Russian Orca Project believes killer whales in the Sea of Okhotsk are captured in a similar manner to belugas. A pod, or several pods, are netted, the net is drawn tighter and tighter until the pod is essentially immobilised. Then young calves are selected and roped, they’re then dragged by their tails into shallow water where they can be wrestled into a harness and put into a truck for transportation. Orcas are incredibly sensitive and intelligent cetaceans with a sense of self. Such captures would be emotionally traumatising, not to mention the ropes and nets could cause severe cuts, broken dorsal and pectoral fins, and even drowning. Witnesses of past captures in the pacific northwest recall the orca pods screaming and screeching during the process, thrashing against nets, trying desperately to get to stolen family members (even drowning in their attempts), refusing to leave the site of capture, and even following vessels to remain with their captured family member.
Thus, current captures are likely to have a similarly traumatic effect.
The immense physical and psychological suffering of captive orcas:
Premature death: At least 162 orcas have died in captivity, not including 30 miscarried and still-born calves. In the wild, orcas have an average lifespan of 30 years for males and 50 for females, despite the supposed high standard of veterinary care and feeding that they receive in captivity, only one of the deceased orcas managed to reach the average lifespan of its wild counterparts. Along with a reduced lifespan in captivity, captive orcas also suffer from a range of health issues.
Oral degradation: It is common for captive killer whales who have been separated and isolated to bite down on the horizontal metal bars of their gates, or to ‘jaw-pop’ through the gates as a display of aggression towards one another. In addition, under-stimulated and bored animals have a tendency to chew on metal bars and rub their teeth on concrete corners like the main stage and slide outs. This is evidenced by tooth fragments that can sometimes be found on the bottom of pools following these displays. As a consequence, the breakage leaves the pulp of teeth exposed which allows for decay, causing a cavity that leads to food plugging; if left untreated the killer whales own immune system will create inflammation and eventually a focus for systematic infection.
To try and avoid infection, captive orcas are subjected to painful dental procedures where holes are drilled into their teeth (pulpotomy) using a variable speed drill. This hole must then be flushed three times a day. The whole procedure is performed WITHOUT using any PAIN RELIEF causing the orca to suffer a great deal during the procedures, during which they will often squeal, shudder and shrink away from the person performing the procedure. Orcas only get one set of teeth to last a lifetime, which are highly durable, yet in captivity almost all orcas have broken, ground, drilled or missing teeth. The chronic pain caused from poor dental health causes many captive orcas to participate in the destructive behaviour of grinding down the jaw itself, leaving the orca with little or no teeth.
Chronic dehydration and unnatural diets: Captive orcas suffer from chronic dehydration due to their frozen fish diet, which has a lower water and nutrient content than fresh fish. Transient orcas, like those held captive in Russia, can suffer more drastically from the diet of frozen fish, as fish are not naturally a part of their diet. Historically, captive transients have STARVED after being unsuccessfully forced to eat fish. In fact, it is rumoured that three captive transient Russian orcas were on the point of starvation before a fellow captive (Narnia) directly brought them food and dropped it into their mouths to encourage them to eat.
Obsessive regurgitation: Regurgitation has only ever been recorded in captivity, it’s a stereotypical behaviour caused directly by the stress, frustration and boredom of being held captive in an abnormal environment. The stomach acid they regurgitate damages the lining of their oesophagus, it can also further degrade already damaged teeth.
Increased aggression: Due to the fact that orcas in captivity are forced to live in artificial pods that do not meet their natural needs, excessive aggression is an issue that affects the life of every captive orca. Extensive rake marks are a common sight in captivity. Along with rake marks there have been many serious injuries from fights between captive orcas, even a fatal incident which resulted in the death of Kandu V who was nursing a young calf at the time. In the wild, orcas have strong social bonds and structure which prevent them from committing acts of serious violence against one another. Although wild orcas do occasionally rake each other, they can escape confrontations into the near limitless amount of space the sea offers, unfortunately, captive orcas do not have this freedom and so are forced to endure this brutality. Additionally, in the wild more submissive members will stay on the periphery of the pod where they can easily avoid aggressive altercations. In contrast, submissive captive orcas have little chance of escape from domineering pod mates. Orca calves below the age of 5 are still socially dependant on their mothers and matriarchs, this means their socialisation process whereby they learn important social skills such as coexisting peacefully with pod members and displaying socially acceptable aggression only when required. Thus separating them from their birth pods when they’re calves can create socially abnormal orcas that over aggressive and form poor bonds with pod members.
Stereotyped behaviours: If the animal cannot satisfy their natural repertoire within the confines of their artificial habitat, they may try to ease the resulting tension by forming stereotypical behaviours such as: head bobbing, pacing or circling, lethargy, receding into comatose-like states, self-mutilation, biting on gates and bars, chewing at the environment and vomiting. In an attempt to control these behaviours, orcas are given drugs ranging from antipsychotics to benzodiazepines.
Forced separations: Whether the separation is across a gate, country or even the world, orcas do not take well to it. Mothers and calves are the most common victims of separation. Calves are moved based purely on the husbandry and economic needs of the marine park. The full extent of these devastating separations on their mental state is still unknown, although antipsychotics have been used to calm grieving mothers following separation from her calf. Orcas are highly intelligent and social animals that have a whole section of the brain designed purely for the purpose of processing emotion. It is thus believed that they form family bonds that are perhaps even stronger than those humans form.
At least 13 orcas are currently being held captive in Russia, they've all been captured from the wild within the last three years. They will all suffer immensely from everything mentioned above unless immediate action is taken to save them.
As previously stated, we politely request that the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency terminate all current capture permits and stop issuing future permits for cetaceans. We also request that all captive facilities currently holding wild caught Russian orcas rehabilitate and release these whales.
If this cannot be achieved through reasonable means by the aquarium, we request that they surrender their animals to an appropriate welfare organisation that can oversee their rehabilitation. These requests are specifically aimed at TINRO’s Seaside Dolphinarium, Moskvarium and any other facilities in Russia that currently holding captive orcas or have plans to do so in future.
All facts stated correct at time of writing - October 2015.
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Petition created on 2 April 2016