Conservation groups have a nervous wait before hearing the outcome of the fate of Morgan’s, the young orca currently being held in captivity at a Dutch dolphinarium. A last ditch appeal to an Amsterdam court recently was to provide vital evidence that this 4-year-old whale should be released back into the wild rather than be sent to a Spanish marine park.

Morgan is a very valuable commodity to the captivity industry and they have been fighting to keep her for the purpose of entertainment and breeding, typically arguing she would likely not survive in the wild. However one incredible breakthrough came when some of the scientists who originally backed the dolphinarium’s export plan to send Morgan to Loro Parque, have reviewed their decision and now fully support her release.

The court will deliver a written ruling on 21 November, until then Morgan will remain at Harderwijk dolfinarium in the Netherlands until then. During the hearing, very interestingly it emerged that the dolphinarium planned to 'trade' Morgan in return for a number of dolphins.

For the full background about Morgan and her capture, click here