Group campaigns for return of penned orca

Annual memorial strives for killer whale's release

It was 38 years ago this Friday that life changed forever for the southern resident killer whales.

As members of the three resident orca pods travelled up Puget Sound, explosives were thrown into the water from aircraft and about 100 frantic animals were driven into Penn Cove on Whidbey Island and netted.

At least four whales were killed and about seven others were captured and taken to aquariums.

It was the height of the whale captures between 1965 and 1973, which saw about a dozen whales killed and at least 45 captured from the waters of southern Vancouver Island and Puget Sound.

The population, now listed as endangered with 88 whales in three pods, has never recovered and is now facing the additional threats of pollution and shrinking salmon runs.

The only survivor of the southern resident captures is Lolita, a member of L Pod who, for 38 years, has lived in a cramped tank at Miami Seaquarium.

Each year on Aug. 8, in a grim commemoration at the Captain Whidbey Inn at Penn Cove, the Orca Network holds a ceremony to remember the capture and make yet another plea for Lolita's release.

After an evening of special presentations, there will be a waterside ceremony, said Susan Berta of Orca Network.

"We make a wreath out of cedar and native plants and, at the end of the event, we go and put the wreath in the water," she said.

"Every year we hope it will be the year to welcome home Lolita. We hold on to that."

Earlier this year a group of celebrities became active in trying to get Lolita released, and animal-rights lawyers around Miami are looking for ways to launch a lawsuit.

But Miami Seaquarium has shown no sign of budging, even though Lolita -- now in her early 40's -- is no longer the major star of the shows.

In a statement issued earlier this year, Andrew Hertz, general manager of Miami Seaquarium, said releasing Lolita is not an option and there is no scientific evidence she could survive in the open ocean.

"Lolita will remain at Miami Seaquarium surrounded by people who love and protect her," he said.

Everyone is welcome at the Penn Cove event and the audience includes a core group of people who witnessed the capture, Berta said.

"They feel they need to recognize the horror of it and remember the whales we have lost," Berta said.

For more information visit www.orcanetwork.org.