Morgan Update 31.07.11

CITES grant export permit for Morgan

Time is running out for Morgan the wild caught orca as Harderwijk Dolfinarium has been granted an export permit by CITES to relocate her to Loro Parque, despite the abundant scientific evidence that captivity is a very difficult life for such a whale. The permit was granted under the guise of research but Loro Parque is very much a ‘for profit’ business, and this young female will be used for breeding/entertainment and financial gain.

Morgan’s last chance for freedom will be heard in a court case on August 3 in the Netherlands, we will keep you updated.

Dr Dr. Ingrid N. Visser & Mr Terry M. Hardie have written a report explaining why Morgan is a prime candidate for rehabilitation and release. The report can be read here

Who 'owns' a wild orca?

The Marine Connection is extremely disappointed, but not surprised, to receive the news that Morgan, the orca currently held at Harderwijk Dolfinarium in the Netherlands may, in coming weeks, be moved to Loro Parque, a marine park in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Just over a year ago Morgan was swimming wild in the ocean. Although when found in the Wadden Sea she appeared ill, now that she has fully recovered this young whale should be given the opportunity of being released back to a life in the wild rather than remain in captivity.

The transfer permit to move Morgan to the facility in Spain has been applied for, however we are urging the Ministry to refuse it and there is also currently a legal case underway to stop this orca being moved. The orcas currently held at the Loro Parque facility belong to SeaWorld, and if moved there Morgan, being a young orca, will simply add to their breeding stock and may eventually be moved to one of their parks in the USA. Morgan would become the 25th killer whale in SeaWorld's corporate collection, and currently SeaWorld will not comment on whether they will pay for the orca if she is transferred, but confirmed they have worked with the Harderwijk dolfinarium for many years.

Despite many requests from the Marine Connection and various conservation groups and individuals to obtain Morgan’s DNA results, to date the dolfinarium refused. It is however likely that she is related to a subpopulation of killer whales in Norwegian waters. Late last year, the Dutch government ruled that Morgan should not be released following a report prepared by “seven orca experts” who recommended the whale remain in captivity. One of the authors of the report was a former vice president of corporate veterinary services for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment who is still employed by the company on a consultancy basis - therefore we have to question the impartiality of his input and feel this has to be addressed.

Orcas are highly sociable animals. Some populations are composed of matrilineal families and although there is no guarantee that Morgan would be successfully re introduced back into the wild, through the use of an open sea pen she deserves that chance - to perhaps find her kin and live a life in the wild as is her birth right.

For further information click on image below