Subject:

Media Release RE: A-73 (June 11/02)

Date:

Tue, 11 Jun 2002 10:24:47 -0700

From:

Annelise Sorg <cmeps@whaleprotection.org>
Organization: Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society

To:cfn cfn_views@yahoogroups.com

FROM: Coalition for No Whales in Captivity
Box 461 - 1755 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6G 3B7
Tel (604) 736-9514 - Fax (604) 264-0653
--------------------------------------------------

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release - June 11, 2002

A-73 to be captured on Thursday...
HARD QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ASKED

The Coalition for No Whales in Captivity is concerned with the fate of the two orphaned
orcas A-73 and L-98.

We specifically question the proposal to capture A-73 in Puget Sound on
Thursday to transfer her to Canada 10 days later, when the possibility exists that
this animal might not be able to rejoin her family pod. What will happen to this young orca
whale then?

Would the whale be kept captive in a sea pen for the rest of her life, or even worse,
would the aquarium industry be allowed to add the orca to its collection of captive cetaceans?

We believe that both of these options are unacceptable and we are very concerned by
the fact that the US and Canadian governments have not developed a solid and responsible plan in case the transfer of A-73 and the proposed reunion with her family pod is unsuccessful.

We would like assurances from the Canadian government that that there is absolutely no
chance that this whale will end up in captivity for the rest of her life.

For more information please contact:

Nikki Rotmeyer akastes@yahoo.com
Spokesperson
Coalition for No Whales in Captivity
Vancouver, Canada