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"He had a good life" - the story of a magnificent orca, by Ken Balcomb

L41.    Photo credit: Center for Whale Research – WhaleResearch.com

By Ken Balcomb, Founder and Senior Scientist, Center for Whale Research

“My first acquaintance with the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) we designated L41 was in 1977, the year after we began the annual Orca Survey of this population that continues to this day. His mother was L11, who was one of nine…

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NOAA wants to allow the Makah Tribe to kill gray whales for the next 10 years; how to express your opinion

NOAA wants to allow the Makah Tribe to kill gray whales for the next 10 years; how to express your opinion

14 Nov 2019. A federal judge is currently considering the case of whether indigenous rights to kill whales should take precedence over the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and whether it is even wise to do so, given the fact that the specified population of gray whales appears to be experiencing a die off.

Gray whale carcass washed up in California.                         Photo Credit: San…

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The Navy and the Blob 2.0 will impact the lives of whales, dolphins, and seals. Here's what you can do about it.

The Navy and the Blob 2.0 will impact the lives of whales, dolphins, and seals. Here’s what you can do about it.

We need the military to keep us safe,  most of us get that. We also understand that the Navy has vitally important activities that – however unfortunately – can lead to injury and death of marine mammals. The government goes to some length to insure that those Navy activities have a minimum impact by requiring them to submit fairly complex documents every five years, based in part on what impact…

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Airbnb now supports animal sanctuaries and opposes captive dolphin swims, elephant rides, trophy hunting...and more

Airbnb now supports animal sanctuaries and opposes captive dolphin swims, elephant rides, trophy hunting…and more

Airbnb has made it easier to include animal experiences in your travel – they have created a roster of ethical rescue organizations and sanctuaries that are supported by World Animal Protection.

You won’t find Seaworld or similar amusement parks on their list, nor African hunting safaries…instead you’ll find an inspiring list of groups working hard to save animals.

“With technology taking up so…

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75 beluga whales to get a boat ride to freedom in Russia

75 beluga whales to get a boat ride to freedom in Russia

Captive belugas held in icy pens last winter are headed to freedom.

The All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography” (VNIROhas made arrangements to release the last of the nearly 100 belugas and 10 killer whales into the wild after their capture was found to be illegal. While the previous releases involved long transport by container trucks and barges, weather conditions have…

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Another freed captive orca has found her family; updates on the other released Russian whales

Another freed captive orca has found her family; updates on the other released Russian whales

Mixed news on the young captive orcas who were released back into the wild in Russia – while a second released orca appears to be traveling with wild killer whales, the group of four seems to have disbanded somewhat. Two of the released belugas are in an area with wild whales.

Zina with wild orcas 9 Sept 2019. Photo Credit: VNIRO

On the plus side, scientists of the All-Russian Research Institute…

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Elephants rescued as calves return from the wild to show off their babies

Elephants rescued as calves return from the wild to show off their babies

Loijuk and baby Lili, accompanied by nannies Ithumbah and Naserian. Photo Credit: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

What a joyous surprise!

On September 1st the once rescued African elephant Loijuk returned to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where she had been rescued as a calf 14 years previously. With her was her adorable calf Lili, just hours old, and two other once-rescued elephants who she has chosen…

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4 released captive orcas in Russia are hunting together, including little Alexandra

4 released captive orcas in Russia are hunting together, including little Alexandra

It looks as though Alexandra, the youngest killer whale to be released, has joined three of the other freed orcas in the Shantar Islands area of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Of the 10 killer whales who were returned to the sea where they had been captured, only Alexandra needed initial support following her release.

She had become separated from the other two orcas in her group (Vitas and Nut) and wound…

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Freed captive orca photographed with a group of wild whales in Russia; hunting and sharing food

Freed captive orca photographed with a group of wild whales in Russia; hunting and sharing food

Freed captive orca Vasilievna is now hunting and food sharing with a group of wild whales.  She is on the far right, identifiable by her tag.

How often we wake up to good news these days is anyone’s guess, but when that news involves a project that required people to put aside political beliefs, to work with groups who opposed each other in fundamental attitudes about cherished wildlife, to find…

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All 10 killer whales and 12 of the captive belugas have been successfully released into the wild

All 10 killer whales and 12 of the captive belugas have been successfully released into the wild

In an unprecedented effort, the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) orchestrated the release of ten young orcas and a dozen belugas who had been destined for a life in captivity having been illegally caught a year ago. Starting in July the orcas were trucked and barged in groups of two or three over hundreds of miles to be returned to their ocean home. (Background…

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The last 2 captive orcas are on their way to freedom in Russia, along with 6 belugas

The last 2 captive orcas are on their way to freedom in Russia, along with 6 belugas

Alexandra and other released captives are reported to be thriving in the wild.

The whales were captured by companies that used loopholes in the law to obtain permits. Because the permits did not allow capture for the purpose of display, the Russian government ordered that all of the whales be returned to the wild.  For more background information, please see Saving the lonely orca calf,…

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Freed orca Alexandra is thriving, as are 5 of the other young killer whales

Freed orca Alexandra is thriving, as are 5 of the other young killer whales

Satellite tags on the orcas allow scientists to locate them.

According to the Russian Federal Research Institute Of  Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO),  little Alexandra is thriving. She’s hunting on her own in a biologically rich part of the Sea of Okhotsk, although she occasionally snacks on the buffet offered by fishing nets.

The youngest female Alexandra, released on July 16, has come a…

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The trio of captive orcas have been released into the wild

The trio of captive orcas have been released into the wild

Photo Credit: Greenpeace

After five days in containers aboard trucks and a barge in weather that ranged from blazing heat to a downpour, Tikhon, Zoya, and Gadget were released into the Sea of Okhostsk. According to Greenpeace, once the three young killer whales were released they swam together for a couple of hours then headed out to sea.

Like the other released captive whales, satellite tags…

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Update on the Russian orcas via Greenpeace - tomorrow the whales will be free

Update on the Russian orcas via Greenpeace – tomorrow the whales will be free

Photo Credit: Greenpeace Russia

Rain brought relief from the heat as the three orcas were prepared for the last leg of their trip to freedom.

Once again, the water was changed in each container, and the whales were massaged where it was needed to counter the effects of the cramped space in their containers. In the wild, orcas rarely rest motionless and travel as much as a hundred miles in a day,…

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The 3 freed killer whales are stressed but hopefully are okay; monitored by Greenpeace

The 3 freed killer whales are stressed but hopefully are okay; monitored by Greenpeace

Photo Credit: Greenpeace Russia

“The cold reception [received] by Greenpeace in the Khabarovsk heat is nothing compared to the stress experienced by killer whales. As one of our team members said later in the evening: “In the creak of doors…I now hear screams of killer whales.” Greenpeace Russia

It was a long, hot, loud trip, in which the orcas vocalized “almost constantly” – and it’s not over…

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3 more young orcas are on their way to freedom from captivity in Russia, bringing the total freed to 8 Homeward bound – their journey may be arduous, but just imagine their joy as the young killer whales swim far and deep to once again hunt their prey in the bays and fjords of the Sea of Okhotsk.

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Saving the lonely orca calf, Alexandra: What are her options? (Videos)

Saving the lonely orca calf, Alexandra: What are her options? (Videos)

An unprecedented effort is underway to return illegally caught whales to the wild in the far northwest Pacific Ocean, but what about the one who just won’t leave? While the four other orcas released into the ocean seem to have adapted to life in the wild, Alexandra has chosen to hang out with the fishermen who provide her with salmon.

[Video originally posted on the Russian Orcas Facebook page.]