WHALES WITHOUT WALLS

A case for support for a natural seaside sanctuary

for captive whales and dolphins

The Whale Sanctuary Project

 TABLE OF C ONTENTS

04 Introduction

05 A Note from the President

06 What It’s Like Living in a Concrete Tank?

07 Quality of Life

08 Ocean vs. Tank

10 Creating the Gold Standard Sanctuary

11 Key Features

12 About the Whale Sanctuary Project

15 The Project So Far

16 2018 Positioning

17 Join Us

19 Contact

2
 THE
TIME
HAS C OME
to see orcas in captivity as a part of our past
– not a tragic part of our future. Let’s end the
show now and retire these intelligent, social,
complex animals to seaside sanctuaries.”

Jean-Michel Cousteau

3
1
R I S E I N SAN CTUAR I ES

Sanctuaries have been created

for elephants, big cats, primates
and other species retired from
performing: but there are no
sanctuaries yet for whales, dolphins
and porpoises;

2 P U B L I C O P I N I O N

People are demanding an end to

whale and dolphin shows;

3 MAR I N E PAR K D EC L I N E

Attendance, profit and share price at

marine parks is declining.
THE
TIME
for a whale sanctuary
is way overdue.

4
A NOTE F RO M
O U R P RES I D E NT

In 2010, I joined a horrified world as we learned that a 12,500-pound male

orca named Tilikum had fatally attacked trainer Dawn Brancheau during a
show at SeaWorld Orlando. I was heartbroken and angry. But frankly I was not
as surprised as most people. Many of us who had been studying whales in
captivity knew that attacks like this one were not uncommon and were sure to
happen again.

My 25 years of research on dolphin and whale brains, intelligence and

emotions had taught me that these deeply intelligent, social and emotional
animals cannot cope with confinement in concrete tanks. I began to think
about the growing number of sanctuaries that already exist for elephants,
tigers, primates and other animals formerly in zoos and circuses, and that the
time had come for us to do the same for whales and dolphins.

Today, the Whale Sanctuary Project is on course to complete a model

sanctuary where whales who are retired from display facilities will have a life
that gives back some of what has been taken from them.

Thank you for your interest in the Whale Sanctuary Project. With your help, we
can create a better world for whales and set a more compassionate example
for our children.

Lori Marino
President

5
 WHAT ’ S IT LIKE LIVIN G
IN A C O NC RETE TAN K?

Captive bred and born, Orkid grew up with The rest of the whales on display are captive
trauma. Days after birth, the newborn orca bred and born, and while they have never
lost her father Orky. Eleven months later, she known open seas, their bodies and brains
watched as her mother Kandu was brutally are driven by genetic memories of a limitless
attacked by a tank mate. The impact broke world, alive with sound and rich with close
Kandu’s jaw and fatally severed an artery. familial bonds knit by culture. Whether
Orkid, who shared an isolation tank with her captured or captive-born, all live in a state of
mother, watched her bleed to death. stressful social and sensory deprivation.

For days after this loss, Orkid circled the pool, For belugas the situation is similar, but the
vocalizing. Her plaintive cries ricocheted off numbers are far greater since these gentle
the flat hard surfaces – grieving, futile echoes. white whales have been exploited for more
than 150 years. Countless belugas have been
Today, the frustrated and heartbroken pulled from the wild, and many have died,
adult whale is a ticking time bomb with often in their shipping crates. Today there
a SeaWorld rap sheet that tallies 17 are more than 200 beluga whales in display
“incidents” of aggression toward her tank facilities.
mates and her trainers.
Globally, there are more than 3,000 whales
Orkid is one of at least 57 orcas languishing and dolphins in captivity.
in 14 marine parks in eight countries. Each
animal has a uniquely tragic story. The
once free-ranging older adults were ripped
from family groups in waters off the Pacific
Northwest, Canada, Iceland and Russia.

GLOBALLY THERE
ARE MORE THAN
3,000 WHALES
AND D OLPHINS
IN CAPTIVITY”
6
Q UAL ITY OF LIFE

I NTE L L I G E N C E B E HAVI O R

Orcas and belugas are intelligent Not only are they unable to engage
and self-aware, with brains much in highly complex social behavior
larger than would be expected for including play, hunting, and
their body size, particularly in the vocalizing within their pods, these
areas that process emotion and captive whales are also being forced
social interaction. to perform repetitive tricks in shows
many times a day.

C O M M U N IT Y STR ES S

In the wild, they play, socialize, When not performing, they often
forage and work together as a group. display signs of psychological
Each fulfills a role in their cultural stress known as stereotypies. These
community. They think, feel and plan include peeling and eating paint
together. For such intelligent, social from tank walls, endless circling, and
and sentient beings, life in marine biting the metal gates on their tanks,
park tanks is brutal. injuring their teeth in the process.

7
 O CE AN VS. TAN K

Orcas are wide-ranging predators, In marine parks, they circle their

diving to depths of more than 300 RO O M tanks in chemically treated water
feet to forage and often traveling TO M OVE with typically no space to dive one
more than 100 miles a day. body length or swim in
a straight line.

Orcas and belugas live in strongly In captivity, they are shuffled around
bonded social groups that range S O C IAL
from park to park like chess pieces,
in size from a few to dozens. These BOND I NG with little regard for family bonds.
pods are matrilineal with offspring
often remaining with mothers and
siblings for life.

There is no credible documentation In captivity, aggression toward

of orcas ever attacking a human in AGGRESSION
humans is not uncommon. And
the wild. because there is nowhere for a
subordinate whale to escape from
the aggression of another, fights
between whales are frequent and
sometimes fatal.

In the wild, orca males have been Most captive orcas do not live
known to live into their 50s and LO NGEVITY past 20, and of all wild-caught
females into their 70s and older. orcas, more than half died within
Belugas in the wild can live into four years of capture. Captive
their 50s and 60s. belugas typically do not
live beyond 30.

8
 WHALES
SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO PERFORM
for their supper and our entertainment.”

Charles Vinick

9
 C R E ATI NG TH E
G O L D STANDAR D

Concept design of future whale sanctuary.

The Whale Sanctuary Project will create a cold-water seaside sanctuary

that can offer an aquatic habitat as close as possible to the natural
environment of its residents. Our goal is to maximize the whales’
opportunities for autonomy, exploration, play, socializing and resting.

The sanctuary will include a rehabilitation and release program for injured or
stranded wild whales and captive whales who may be suitable candidates for
reintroduction to the wild.

10
KEY FE ATU RES

S PAC E G LO BAL M O D E L

A bay of at least 65 acres of water An authentic sanctuary is not just

space with a minimum average a place to live, but it is a place
depth of 15 meters. to thrive. The wellbeing of its
residents – not audiences, visitors,
researchers, etc. – is always the
priority.
CAR E
This will be a model sanctuary that
24/7 care by top veterinarians and we will encourage others to replicate
enrichment, as needed. to help solve this global problem.

P U B L I C E D U CATI O N

E NVI RO N M E NT State-of-the-art video feeds above

and below water will open a window
A natural sandy bottom with living into the world of the resident whales
creatures with whom to interact – for anyone with Internet access.
fish, crabs and even birds to chase
on the water’s surface. Virtual reality 3-D technology will
allow immersive experiences that
teach people about the life and
C H O I C E & AUTO N O MY behavior of these charismatic
animals.
Whales make their own decisions
with limited human interaction. An on-site visitor center will offer an
interpreted first-hand experience
of the sanctuary from which the
whales can be viewed unobtrusively
VO CAL I Z ATI O N from a distance.

The natural banks of the bay Our ultimate goal is to leverage

will not send their vocalizations the experience of sanctuary life to
reverberating back at them like in an inspire a conservation ethic in the
echo chamber. public.
11
 ABOUT THE
WHAL E SAN CTUARY
P ROJ ECT

In 2015, a group of experts and leaders in marine mammal science and behavior, veterinary
medicine, husbandry, engineering, law and policy, and animal advocacy came together with the
purpose of creating the first North American seaside sanctuary for cold water cetaceans such as
orcas and beluga whales.

The Whale Sanctuary Project arose from this meeting, and was incorporated as a 501c3 tax exempt
nonprofit in 2016.

BOAR D O F D I R ECTO R S

LO R I MARI N O C HAR L ES VI N I C K DAVI D P H I L L I P S

Founder & President Executive Director
Neuroscientist and expert in animal Former Chief Operating Officer of Ocean Executive Director of the Earth Island
behavior and intelligence. Formerly on Futures Society, and Vice President of the Institute, David was also the founder of the
the faculty of Emory University, Lori is Cousteau Society, Charles has been a long- Free Willy/Keiko Foundation. In addition,
internationally known for her work on the time colleague of Jacques and Jean-Michel David directs the International Marine
evolution of the brain and intelligence Cousteau. His background in business Mammal Project, which oversees the
in dolphins and whales, primates and includes extensive experience in ocean policy, Save Japan Dolphins effort and focuses on
farmed animals. environmental policy, project management and ending the killing of dolphins in Japan and
government relations. the capture of dolphins for live trade.

NAO M I RO S E CAR L SAF I NA

As marine mammal scientist for Internationally renowned, award-winner author

the Animal Welfare Institute, Naomi and ocean advocate, Carl’s work appears
works on campaigns and coalitions frequently in The New York Times, Audubon,
addressing global problems Orion and National Geographic. His latest
associated with cetacean live bestselling book, Beyond Words; What Animals
capture, trade and captivity. Think and Feel, affirms his role as one of today’s
12 leading voices for nature.
STAF F AN D ADVI S O R S

Our professional staff and advisory committee comprise a team of 58 highly-qualified professionals with
expertise in every facet of project growth and operations. They include:

J E AN - M I C H E L SYLVIA E AR L E D O NAL D C. BAU R

C O U STE AU President and Chairman of Mission WSP Legal Counsel. Partner in the
Ocean explorer, environmentalist, Blue / The Sylvia Earle Alliance; law firm Perkins Coie, former General
educator and film producer. oceanographer, explorer, author and Counsel of the U.S. Marine Mammal
lecturer, government official, and Commission, and lawyer to Keiko the
director for several corporate and non- whale during his rehab.
profit organizations.

J E F F F O STE R H E ATH E R R A L LY M I C HAE L M O U NTAI N

WSP animal transfer and rehab Wildlife veterinarian specializing in WSP communications coordinator.
coordinator. Former Director of Field marine mammal medicine, Former president and co-founder of
Operations and Research for the rescue and rehabilitation. Best Friends Animal Society.
Keiko Project.

13
 STAF F AN D ADVI S O R S

HAL WH ITE H E AD DAVI D CAS S E L MAN RO N K AG AN

Dalhousie University research Trial attorney and advocate for captive CEO of the Detroit Zoological
scientist specializing in whale elephants. Founder and director of the Society and advocate for
social complexity, cultural Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary. compassionate conservation.
transmission and ecology.

E D STEWART G I U S E P P E N OTAR BARTO LO PAU L S P O N G

D I S C IAR A
Co-founder and President of the Co-director of Orcalab, a whale research
Marine conservationist and Director of the
Performing Animal Welfare Society station in British Columbia. Orca
Tethys Research Institute in Milan, Italy.
and its sanctuaries in California for behavior and communication expert.
captive wildlife.

14
THE PROJ ECT
S O FAR

With the leadership commitment of Munchkin, Inc. CEO

Steven Dunn and our other donors, we have completed:

A strategic plan for the creation and

operation of the sanctuary;

Financial projections for each element of

the sanctuary, including animal care and
veterinary facilities; staff and administrative
quarters including housing; and plans for a
public education and outreach center;

Desktop and satellite imagery search of

over 120 sites in Washington State, British
Columbia, Maine and Nova Scotia;

Field research and analysis of the top

20+ candidate sites leading to six most
promising sites.

15
 20 1 8
P O SITION IN G

The Whale Sanctuary Project is now poised to

complete the following in 2018:

Research and field analyses on each of

the top sites we have identified, including
extensive on-water surveys to ensure
that the cove or inlet meets the criteria
determined by our science advisors;

Rigorous environmental impact assessments

to ensure that the sanctuary will have no
negative impacts on existing wildlife;

Detailed studies of the surroundings of

each site, evaluating site accessibility
and how well the location supports the
sanctuary’s ongoing needs for transport of
both animals and people;

Initiating the legal and permitting

requirements necessary before physical
structures can be installed on site.

16
TO G ETH E R, WE CAN
BU IL D TH E F UTUR E

The success of the Whale Sanctuary Project and the future of captive cetaceans will rely upon the support
of visionary individuals and organizations committed to a world where these majestic animals are treated
with respect and dignity.

Our immediate goal is to raise $1.2 million for our 2018 budget and to initiate our capital campaign
for building the sanctuary.

Together, we can make this happen. By investing in the Whale Sanctuary Project, you become a partner in
creating a better world, not only for the whales, but also for our children.

JOIN US

17
 THE MO ST
IMP ORTANT
LESS ON
we learned from seeing killer whales in
captivity is that they don’t belong in captivity.“

Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Blackfish Director

18
 TO LEARN MORE

Contact:
Charles Vinick, Executive Director
cvinick@mac.com

www.whalesanctuaryproject.org
(805) 252-5421

19