Writing For Orca: Hello from Suzie!

by Suzie Hall 

Hello - my name is Suzie Hall and I am Orca Aware's new blog writer! 

Like so many, I watched the beloved Free Willy when I was just a few years old and have been completely captivated with orca ever since. I adopted Springer the orca at the age of 11, spent most evenings watching any orca videos and documentaries I could get my hands on, and even emailed SeaWorld when I was ten years old wanting to become a trainer (until I learned about the poor welfare suffered by orca in captivity).

As I grew up, there became a point where I had to try and establish if my love of orca was ‘just a childish phase’ (because, let’s face it, who doesn’t love whales and dolphins as a kid!?), or whether it was built on something more. At University I joined the SCUBA diving society and suddenly my passion for the ocean, marine conservation and orca exploded into life. I am now certain that it’s not just a fad, and I’m confident that I have a long life of orca-related endeavours ahead of me.

Last January, I travelled to Grundarfjörður, Iceland on a three-day orca-watching trip. The area is famous for the huge shoals of herring which visit in the winter months, attracting orca and other cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in their hundreds. Unfortunately, the winter season in 2015 was uncharacteristically lacking in herring, and the fish that often flood the fjords were nowhere to be seen. And neither were the orca. On our third day the boat captain received a call that there were orca right near the tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula (about 30km away) and we were taken on a huge three-hour round trip in an attempt to find them, but sadly to no avail.

Our orca watching boat with Laki Tours, Grundarfjörður (Photo © Suzie Hall)

It has always been my dream to finally see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat, and what surprised me the most is that I wasn’t disappointed at all that we hadn’t seen them. I was hugely content in the knowledge that the orca were out there swimming, hunting and playing wherever they liked; that was much more important than my own personal experience.

My trip to Iceland has kick-started my drive to learn and do more for orca. At the dive conference last October I met the members from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and very quickly the conversation turned towards orca (this happens quite a lot!) and I explained how I want to get involved in any way I can. Now I find myself writing for the BDMLR sponsored campaign, Orca Aware and can’t wait to get started!

Suzie trying on BDMLR's orca costume

I am constantly inspired by the tireless work of orca advocates worldwide, and I hope that one day I too will be able to make a contribution. Why such a strong connection to an animal I have never encountered? In truth, I have no logical answer. It is, admittedly, quite strange and perhaps I’ll never be able to explain it. All I can say is that I know my love for them will drive me to spend my life working to understand, protect and educate the world about these fascinating mammals.

My advice to anyone who loves orca and wants to get involved is simply just to go for it. I don’t have a marine-related degree, I have seen a grand total of four dolphins in my life, and I’m living in a completely landlocked city – but that won’t stop me. There are still a shocking number of orca in captivity, our own resident population in UK waters (the West Coast Community) is in danger of extinction and there is still so much we don’t know about orca worldwide. There is a lot to be done for the protection of this species and so many things that people can do; so get started!

In the meantime, I will look forward to bringing you my take on the latest news and information in my up-and-coming Orca Aware blogs. Thanks for reading and please get in touch if there are any topics you would like me to write about! 

Icelandic Orca In Captivity

Information Resource by Orca Aware

Orca Currently Alive

Stella

Stella was around the age of one when she was captured in 1987 and is on display at the Port of Nagoya Aquarium in Japan. Up until 02 August 2014, Stella resided with another wild-caught Icelandic orca, Bingo (also known as Thor). Stella and Bingo produced four surviving calves: Lovey (born 1998), Lara (born 2001), Ran 2 (born 2006) and Rin (also known as Lynn, born 2012). Their third calf, Sarah, lived from May 2003 until April 2006. 

Kiska

Kiska was captured in 1979 at the age of three and is currently the only orca kept at Marineland Ontario in Canada. Kiska has produced five calves, all of which are dead. The longest-living calf died at age six and the shortest-living calf only survived for 62 days. 

Ulises

Ulises was around three years-old when captured from Icelandic waters. Ulises was captured in 1980 and is now held at SeaWorld in California. He suffers from flaccid fin syndrome & prior to SeaWorld's breeding ban, was used as a breeding bull, including to impregnate a captive orca at Marineland Antibes in France. Ulises has sired two calves (although it is unconfirmed whether he is the father of the first calf in France).

Katina

Katina (also known as Kandu 6) is contained at SeaWorld in Florida. Katina was captured in 1978 at the age of two. Katina has four surviving calves, of which only two are at SeaWorld Florida with her. Three more of her captive-born offspring have died. 

• Find out about Katina's calf, Kalina: the original 'Baby Shamu'. 
• Found out about Katina & Tilikum's calf, Taku

Deceased Orca 

A further 49 orca were captured from Icelandic waters (that we know of). Of these, 48 individuals have died in captivity, with only one female surviving past the age of 30 in the captive environment. The majority of these Icelandic orca have survived in captivity for considerably less time, with several having died after only a few months.  

Name, Age at Capture, Time in Captivity: 

Kim, 5 years, 1976 - 1982

Kenau, 1 year, 1976 - 1991

Gudrun, <1 year, 1976 - 1996

Magnus, 1 year, 10/1977 - 12/1977

Canuck 2, 2 years, 1977 - 1981

Koana 2, 2 years, 1977 - 1987

Kandu 5, 3 years, 1977 - 1989

Suzie Wong, <1 year, 1977 - 1997

Winnie, <1 year, 1977 - 2002

No name, 1 year, 10/1978 - 02/1979

Shawn, 1 year, 1978 - 1979

Betty, 3 years, 1978 - 1987

Kahana, 1 year, 1978 - 1991

Kotar, <1 year, 1978 - 1995

No name, 1 year, 11/1978 - 02/1979
Kasatka, 1 year, 1978 - 2017
Shamu, 1 year, 1979 - 1983

No name, 3 years, 11/1979 - 01/1980

King, <1 year, 1979 - 1983

Caren, 2 years, 1979 - 1987

Benkei 2, <1 year, 1980 - 1983

Finna, 3 years, 1980 - 1997

Vigga, 1 year, 1980 - 2000

Bjossa, 3 years, 1980 - 2001

No name, 4 years, 10/1981 - 1982? 

No name, <1 year, 10/1981 - 12/1981

Neptune, 4 years, 1981 - 1983

Nemo, <1 year, 1981 - 1986

Ruka, 2 years, 1981 - 2000

Nootka 5, 2 years, 1981 - 2008

No name, 1 year, 10/1982 - 05/1983

Nootka 4, 3 years, 1982 - 1994

Haida 2, <1 year, 1982 - 2001

Kim 2, <1 year, 1982 - 2005
Freya, 1 year, 1982 - 2015

Nandu, 2 years, 1983 - 1988

Samoa, 3 years, 1983 - 1992
Tilikum, 2 years, 1983 - 2017

No name, 4 years, 11/1984 - 01/1985
Bingo, 2 years, 1984 - 2014

Freyja, 2 years, 1984 - 1987

Junior, 2 years, 1984 - 1994

Kandu 7, 6 years, 1984 - 2005

Prince, 3 years, 1987 - 1991

Maggie, 3 years, 1987 - 1997

Oscar, 1 year, 1987 - 2012

Ai, 1-2 years, 1989 - 1995

Tanouk, 3 years, 1989 - 2000

Ran, 1-2 years, 1989 - 2004

Sharkan, 4 years, 1989, 1989 - 2009

Keiko, 2 years, 1979 - Keiko died in 2003 after being returned to his natural habitat. 

For more information, visit: ORCA HOME (www.orcahome.de)

There's Something About Orca

by Sam Lipman

Why orca and not tigers or dinosaurs or bottlenose dolphins or bears? A question that I am often asked and a question that, if I am perfectly honest, I find difficult to answer. I don't really know "why orca". For me, it has just always been that way, from as far back as I can remember, when I first laid eyes on one. 

I had always loved all animals as a child but growing up in a big concrete town, I never had the opportunity to see or learn about whales and dolphins. That is, until I saw Keiko, the orca who played Willy in the hit Hollywood movie "Free Willy". My four-year old heart melted. 

I remember being sat in that cinema chair in 1994 filled with absolute awe and, despite the fact I was only watching this magnificent creature through a television screen (albeit a very large TV screen), I felt a connection with him, with his entire species. There was just something special about this animal, something magical - something that even to this day I find incredibly difficult to put into words. And this wonder wasn't limited to Keiko as an individual - not at all. I still get shivers down my spine and feel that indescribable excitement building when I watch those first few moments of the "Free Willy" movie - the video footage of orca swimming through the open ocean, with the signature opening credit theme music playing over the top. 

This burning passion that gripped me as a toddler has stayed with me throughout my life so far and I now bare the proud label of "orcaholic", that many of you share with me.

So why orca? The conclusion that I have reached is that there's just something about orca. Which isn't very helpful at all, so I put the question to the girl who grew up with orca (and many other cetacean species) in her back garden, Melisa Pinnow. 

Once you've read why it's orca for Melisa, we would love to hear from YOU - why have orca stolen your attention, and possibly even your heart?  

by Melisa Pinnow (guest blogger)

25 year old Matia L77 does an inverted tail slap
(Photo © Melisa Pinnow)

I am asked this question all the time and I often wonder about it myself. I believe one reason I fell in love with orcas is due to their lifelong family bonds. Sons and daughters stay with their mothers their entire lives, making them relatable. It proves to me that these beings can feel emotions, experiencing happiness and excitement as a younger sibling is being born or sadness and mourning when a family member passes away or is captured for life in a tank. Their extremely high level of intelligence, problem solving abilities and hunting techniques also draws me in. 

I love how they all have unique saddle patches, eye patches and dorsal fin shapes that allow me to identify and get to know each individual I meet and their personalities are just as unique. Another reason is an adult male’s 6 foot tall dorsal fin. Watching something so tall rise up out of the water as a male surfaces is an amazing sight. I also love all of their surface behaviors they do from breaching, spy hopping, belly flopping and cartwheeling to above water vocalizations and playing with kelp. 

Unique saddle patches: 17 year-old Crewser L92 & 
56 year-old grandma Baba L26 (Photo © Melisa Pinnow)

Another reason is that they are just as curious of us as we are of them. On 8/31/12 a 5 month old female named L119 came straight over to our boat and playfully tail slapped and looked up at us from underwater. She paralleled us for a bit then abruptly turned and rolled around in delight as if we were the most exciting thing she had ever seen in her life. On separate occasions we have also had Cappuccino K21, Cousteau L113, Mystery L85, Samish J14, Wave Walker L88, Star J46, Mega L41, and Mike J26 come over to our boat and eye us. I also love orcas for the sounds they make. An orca’s quick exhale and inhale is my favorite sound in the world. During summer nights I open up my window and go to sleep to the sounds of the Southern Resident orcas breathing as they swim past my house.  I also love their vocalizations they make, especially the calls of resident orcas because each pod has a unique accent that makes it so you can identify a pod just by listening to them. Plus, who couldn’t love an orca’s sleek black and white patterned body! These are the reasons I am interested in orcas. 

Melisa is also author of Orca in my Garden.  

35 year old Nugget L55 breaches (Photo © Melisa Pinnow)