July 2/19
News Information
Re: Stop UBC Research Harassment of the Endangered Orcas! Put Orca Rights First!
Researchers from the University of British Columbia plan to chase and attach large instrument packs to the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs).
With a 1.1 million dollars federal grant UBC are asking questions such as if it getting harder for orcas to catch salmon? (Research also includes putting data trackers in 100 Chinook to see if they are better at avoiding orca by diving deeper.) In fact orcas know how to find food but the Chinook salmon populations are endangered from human overfishing, etc.. That is the threat! Fishing moratoriums needed immediately!
This research harassment is a waste of time and money that should be spent directly on Chinook recovery projects. This is another example of the peer review research industry continuing to ask endless questions to continue the lucrative grants and jobs! Who is protecting the SRKWs’ Rights?
Chasing the orcas to attach the instrument packs causes unnecessary, harmful psychological impacts including stress. And the drag of the instruments results in increased physical energy needs as found in other species that was nearly 20%. This results in failure to actually study any true foraging behaviours.
These experiments and the other cumulative studies interfere with the orcas’ lifestyles and freedom! These orcas are suffering enough! In 2018 the ailing J50 was chased, shot with darts and subjected to other experiments then died as predicted. Also, for 17 days, a mom mourned the loss of her newborn.
UBC Must Let Them Be! Boat traffic is a known threat to SRKWs so restrict research vessel traffic too!
Help Stop this Waste of Orca Protection Money!
Help Put Orca Rights First!
URGENT!
Immediately Contact: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca; Minister Johnathan Wilkinson, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Johnathan.Wilkinson@parl.gc.ca; BC Premier John Horgan premier@gov.bc.ca ; BC Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver andrew.weaver.mla@leg.bc.ca; and WA State Governor Jay Inslee, govoutbound@iq.governor.wa.gov;
Sign and Share the “Orcas Must Not Be Treated like Lab Animals” Petition https://www.change.org/p/wilbur-ross-thesec-doc-gov-orcas-must-not-be-mistreated-like-lab-animals
Further information: lifeforcesociety@gmail.com
Lifeforce has been fighting to save these orcas from extinction since 1993. You can contribute to protecting these orcas by signing and sharing the petition and through making a donation to Lifeforce Foundation through Paypal. http://www.lifeforcefoundation.org/support.php