By  A.  Mel  Cosentino
The   event   was   held   at   the   St   David   Building   at   Otago   University   (Dunedin,   New
Zealand),   on   Thursday   December   the   12th,   2013,   as   part   of   the   20th   biennial
Conference  on  the  Biology  of  Marine  Mammals.
The   facilitator   was   Dr.   Doug   Wartzok   (Florida   International   University,   U.S.)   and   the   members  of  the  panel  were
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Dr.  Robin  Baird  (Cascadia  Research  Collective,  Canada),
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Dr.  Doug  DeMaster  (Alaska  Fisheries  Science  Centre,  NOAA,  U.S.),
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Dr.  Dave  Duffus  (University  of  Victoria,  Canada),
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Dr.  Judy  St  Leger  (SeaWorld,  U.S.)
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Dr.  Mark  Orams  (Auckland  University  of  Technology,  New  Zealand),
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Dr.  Naomi  Rose  (Animal  Welfare  Institute,  U.S.).
From  left  to  right:  Dr.  Dave  Duffus,  Dra.  Naomi  Rose,  Dr.  Doug  DeMaster,  Dr.  Mark  Orams,  Dr.  Judy  St
Leger  y  Dr.  Robin  Baird.
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The  panel  had  two  main  goals:
1)   To   provide   an   overview   of   scientific   data   collected   from   free-­‐ranging   and   captive   killer  whales;  and
2)  To  offer  an  opportunity  for  experts  to  discuss  comparative  aspects  of  killer  whale
biology  in  these  two  environments  and  the  implications  thereof.
I  have  summarised  here  the  main  points  made  by  the  participants.  The  full  discussion
will  be  available  soon  online  and  will  be  posted  here  for  those  interested.
The   discussion   started   with   a   short   introduction   by   Dr.   Wartzok,   followed   by   a   15   minutes  presentation  by  Dr.  DeMaster,  who  mainly  discussed  survivorship  rates.
The   various   ways   of   estimating   survival   rates   for   both   captive   and   wild   killer   whales   show  that  captured  and  captive  born  individuals  have,  in  fact,  higher  mortality  rates.
And  though  there  has  been  a  significant  improvement  from  the  70’s,  compared  to  the   first  decade  of  the  killer  whale  captivity  industry,  no  improvement  has  occurred  since   the  mid  80’s.
But  how  long  a  killer  whale  lives  is  another  issue.  DeMaster  pointed  out  that,  though   directly  related  to  annual  survivorship,  “longevity  is  statistically  challenging”.  A  small   increase  in  survival  rate  can  be  translated  in  an  increase  of  many  years  in  longevity.  We   are  still  not  able  to  determine  unequivocally  how  long   killer  whales  live,  both  in  the   wild  and  in  captivity.
Dr.  Duffus  made  it  clear  “I  don’t  see  the  value  of  research  on  captive  individuals”  and  "I   push  for  a  priority  in  wild  killer  whales",  and  he  was  applauded  for  it.  But  obviously  this   is  still  in  debate  today:  what  can  we  gain  from  killer  whales  in  captivity  when  it  comes   to  research  and  conservation?  and  furthermore,  is  it  worth  it?
The   questions   were   submitted   by   attendees   of   the   conference   in   previous   weeks.   A   total  of  5  main  questions  were  selected  out  of  25 1 .
Question  #1:  What  are  the  benefits  and  contributions  of  the  research  conducted  on
captive  killer  whales  to  conservation  of  killer  whales  in  the  wild?
Dr  St  Leger  mentioned  some  research  projects  that  are  being  carried  out  with  captive   killer  whales,  including  a  recent  publication  on  metabolic  rates  which  she  said  can  be   used  to  estimate  prey  consumption  in  wild  populations.  But,  the  members  of  the  panel   argued   that   metabolic   rates   of   captive   animals   cannot   be   compared   to   those   in   the   wild,  as  they  live  in  unnatural  conditions.
Dr.   Rose   highlighted   that   though   killer   whales   have   been   in   captivity   for   almost   50   years,  even  if  the  research  being  conducted  had  a  real  conservation  value,  the  number   of   publications   is   slim,   very   slim.   Dr.   Duffus   also   highlighted   that   even   when   the   research   being   done   at   SeaWorld   might   provide   information   we   would   struggle   to   obtain  in  the  wild,  the  results  are  mostly  never  used  in  management.  Dr.  Orams  went
1  All  the  questions  submitted  by  the  participants  have  been  included  at  the  end  of  this  document
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further  and  questioned  the  educational  value  of  marine  parks:  “there  is  no  information   on  the  education  and  longer  term  conservation  outcome”.
Question  #2:  What  are  the  top  three  scientific  discoveries  the  panel  feel  have  been   made  with  regard  to  our  scientific  understanding  of  killer  whales  in  the  wild  and  in   captivity?
St  Leger  talked  about  training  methods,  how  to  make  an  animal  to  help  you  answer  a   question  you  have.  She  talked  about  using  positive  reinforcement  to  understand  what   choices  killer  whales  make.
The   rest   of   the   panel   focused   on   wild   animals.   We   know   there   are   different   populations,  we  know  they  have  different  cultures,  they  feed  on  different  prey  items,   they   have   different   dialects.   “Diversity”.   We   know   they   have   a   complex   social   structure.  Each  population  is  distinctive  in  many  ways.
Question   #3:   Relatively   few   scientists   studying   free-­‐ranging   killer   whales   have   also   worked   on   captive   killer   whales,   possibly   due   to   ethical   concerns.   Does   the   panel   think  that  researchers  working  with  free-­‐ranging  killer  whales  could  have  more  of  a   role   in   applying   that   experience   with   wild   killer   whale   populations   to   improve   conditions  for  captive  killer  whales,  and  can  they  think  of  any  specific  examples?
Yes,  they  could...
Question   #4:   Regarding   the   recent   captures   of   7   killer   whales   in   the   Okhotsk   Sea,   should   the   SMM   provide   its   expertise   to   the   Fisheries   in   Russia   on   the   size   of   the   quota  for  2014  and  future  years,  and  comment  on  the  failure  to  evaluate  separately   the  management  status  of  the  two  known  ecotypes  of  Russian  Far  East  killer  whales;   should   the   population,   breeding   unit   size,   and   other   factors   of   the   2   ecotypes   be
considered  before  undertaking  captures?
There  was  a  general  agreement  that  before  any  removal  from  the  wild  is  carried  out,   basic  information,  such  as  population  size,  should  be  known.  Removals  from  the  wild,   regardless  of  their  purpose,  should  be  made  in  a  sustainable  manner.
Dr.  Rose  appealed  the  Society  to  consider  taking  a  stand  on  this  issue.  Those  captures
did  not  have  a  conservation  purpose,  and  in  fact  can  pose  a  conservation  threat  for  the   population   affected;   those   captures   were   for   public   display.   And,   furthermore,   killer
whales  are  not  the  only  species  that  is  being  captured  for  this  reason.
Eight   killer   whales   have   been   taken   from   the   wild   in   the   Russian   Far
East   in   the   last   year   and   were   being  held  in  small
pools
Vladivostok   near
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Question  #5:  Ocean  noise  is  a  real  concern  for  many  cetacean  species.  Anthropogenic   events  have  been  concerns  for  killer  whale  strandings.  What  efforts  are  being  made   to   document   the   environmental   noise   exposure   for   free   ranging   animals   and   to   reduce   ocean   noise   in   the   habitats   of   killer   whales?   Can   testing   be   performed   on   captive   killer   whales   that   determines   the   hearing   range   for   this   species   and   if   so   what  research  has  to  date  been  conducted  in  this  arena?
Dr.  Baird  explained  that  the  U.S.  regulations  to  reduce  the  impact  of  sound  on  killer   whales   (particularly   regarding   masking)   are   based   on   theoretical   models   and   data   collected  from  free-­‐ranging  animals,  and  there  are  also  related  ongoing  projects  that   include  tagged  animals.
Dr  St  Leger  said  that  SeaWorld  has  been  training  killer  whales  for  them  to  voluntarily   participate  in  hearing  tests.  This  will  allow  estimating  the  hearing  range  of  the  species,   among   other   things,   and   she   asked   scientists   for   help   to   produce   a   scientific   valid   study.  She  stressed  that  is  an  example  of  what  research  with  captive  animals  can  be   useful  for:  A  question  is  asked  and  the  answer  is  provided,  a  problem  is  solved.
Dr  Rose  stepped  up  and  gave  a  simple  but  clear  answer:  “I  argue  that  they  are  not  best   model  for  anything  that  is  going  on  in  the  wild  when  it  comes  to  hearing.”  SeaWorld  is   not  a  research  facility  and  animals  perform  daily  in  shows  that  involved  a  lot  of  noise
from  the  audience  and  loud  background  music.
Dr.   Wartzok,   the   facilitator,   ended   the   discussion   making   additional   comments   and   stressing   that   the   debate   should   continue   in   the   context   of   the   theme   of   the
Conference:  “Science  making  a  difference”.
This   is   a   short   summary   of   the   overall   discussion.   Many   interesting   comments   were   made  but  I  tried  to  outline  the  most  relevant  ones  and  to  present  the  general  answer   to  each  question.
Quoting   someone   I   talked   to   about   this   panel   discussion   the   next   day:   “you   can   ask   every  member  of  the  Society  what  they  think  about  captivity  and  you  will  not  get  two   answers  that  are  the  same”.  Some  members  support  captivity  and  conduct  research  on   captive  animals,  which  they  consider  to  be  important  for  conservation  and/or  public   education.
As   I   listened   to   the   panel   I   could   not   help   but   wonder   what   the   role   of   scientists   in   public  education  is.  The  importance  of  effective  communication  with  non-­‐scientists  has   been  a  recurrent  topic  over  the  week,  both  in  workshops  and  presentations.  Dr  Rose   stressed  that  scientists  should  also  advocate.  How?  We  don’t  need  to  get  emotional,   irrational  and  subjective,  we  don’t  need  to  go  out  on  the  streets  and  protest;  we  have   the  answers,  we  are  the  ones  with  the  information  and  we  should  take  responsibility   to  get  our  message  out  there.
But  we  should  not  stop  there;  the  captivity  industry  is  one  of  the  many  topics.
The  following  list  includes  all  the  questions  submitted  by  the  participants
1)  What  are  the  benefits  and  contributions  of  the  research  conducted  on  captive  killer   whales  to  conservation  of  killer  whales  in  the  wild?
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2)  What  are  the  top  three  scientific  discoveries  the  panel  feel  have  been  made  with   regard  to  our  scientific  understanding  of  killer  whales  in  the  wild  and  in  captivity?
3)   Relatively   few   scientists   studying   free-­‐ranging   killer   whales   have   also   worked   on
captive   killer   whales,   possibly   due   to   ethical   concerns.   Does   the   panel   think   that   researchers   working   with   free-­‐ranging   killer   whales   could   have   more   of   a   role   in   applying  that  experience  with  wild  killer  whale  populations  to  improve  conditions  for   cative  killer  whales,  and  can  they  think  of  any  specific  examples?
4)  Regarding  the  recent  captures  of  7  killer  whales  in  the  Okhotsk  Sea,  should  the  SMM   provide  its  expertise  to  the  Fisheries  in  Russia  on  the  size  of  the  quota  for  2014  and   future   years,   and   comment   on   the   failure   to   evaluate   separately   the   management   status   of   the   two   known   ecotypes   of   Russian   Far   East   killer   whales;   should   the   population,   breeding   unit   size,   and   other   factors   of   the   2   ecotypes   be   considered   before  undertaking  captures?
5)  Ocean  noise  is  a  real  concern  for  many  cetacean  species.  Anthropogenic  events  have   been  concerns  for  killer  whale  strandings.  What  efforts  are  being  made  to  document   the  environmental  noise  exposure  for  free  ranging  animals  and  to  reduce  ocean  noise   in  the  habitats  of  killer  whales?  Can  testing  be  performed  on  captive  killer  whales  that   determines  the  hearing  range  for  this  species  and  if  so  what  research  has  to  date  been
conducted  in  this  arena?
6)  What  protocols  and  /or  tests  are  carried  out  to  determine  stress  levels  in  captive   killer  whales  as  compared  with  stress  levels  in  free  ranging  animals?
7)   Having   killer   whales   in   zoological   facilities   has   afforded   millions   of   people   the   opportunity   to   see   and   appreciate   this   species   and   their   ocean   habitat.   Many   of   my   students   have   pursued   the   field   of   marine   biology   because   of   early   experiences   at   facilities  like  SeaWorld.  Not  only  do  these  animals  educate  the  public,  but  they  provide   access   to   living   killer   whales   in   ways   that   are   not   possible   with   their   free   ranging   counterparts   especially   as   it   relates   to   physiology,   animal   health   and   reproductive   biology.  Can  you  suggest  areas  of  research  where  these  highly  motivated  students  can   make  the  greatest  contributions  if  they  are  interested  in  comparative  studies  of  these   types  to  advance  our  knowledge  of  biology  of  this  species  and  other  cetaceans?
8)  What  does  the  panel  consider  to  be  the  appropriate  balance  between  the  scientific   effort   relevant   to   captive   killer   whales   and   that   relevant   to   reducing   the   risk   of   extinction  of  the  marine  mammals  listed  as  threatened  by  IUCN?
9)  Are  the  same  diseases  seen  in  wild  and  captive  orcas?
10)   What   parameters   can   be   used   to   determine   mental   health   and   stress   levels   in   captive   and   wild   killer   whales?   What   behaviours   are   a   direct   consequence   of   being
captive?
11)  Why  do  captive  breeding  programs  for  killer  whales  include  females  younger  than   those  that  first  reproduce  successfully  in  the  wild?
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12)  Why  females  and  calves  separated  at  such  young  ages?  What  are  the  mental  and   physical   health   consequences   for   both   the   calves   and   the   mothers?   What   are   the   decisions  based  on?
13)  Is  there  any  conservation  value  to  breeding  hybrids,  such  as  between  Kshamenk
(from  Mundo  Marino,  in  Argentina)  and  whales  at  SeaWorld?  Might  not  outbreeding
depression  occur  in  the  offspring?
14)   Orcas   do   not   live   in   their   natural   social   structures   in   captivity.   This   may   create   social   stress   resulting   in   agonistic   behavior.   A   common   procedure   is   to   separate   individuals.   However,   would   you   recommend   or   not,   the   use   of   psychological   active   treatments   like   the   application   of   valium   or   hormones   and   are   you   aware   of   such   treatments?
15)  Should  killer  whales  continue  to  be  captured  from  the  wild  to  further  our  scientific
understanding  of  them?
16)   It   is   unlikely   that   captive   killer   whales   can   be   released   in   the   wild   and   have   a   normal  social  life,  but  can  we  imagine  to  move  them  into  a  large  sea  enclosure  so  that   they   can   learn   to   live   in   a   natural   environment?   It   seems   to   work   pretty   well   for   dolphins  (in  Eilat  in  Israel).  Can  the  society  impose  some  guidelines  to  aquatic  parks  to   have   such   sea   enclosures   and   stop   keeping   killer   whales   (or   any   large   marine   mammals)in  tanks?  Thank  you  for  organising  such  discussion.
17)   What   are   all   of   the   factors   you   would   consider   when   determining   whether   a   captive  animal  would  be  able  to  survive  life  again  in  the  wild?  Do  you  think  it  would  be   possible  for  a  captive  born  killer  whale  to  ever  survive  independently  in  the  wild?Do   you   think   Lolita   would   survive   in   the   wild   if   released   and   if   so,   what   would   your   rehabilitation  plan  be  for  her?
18)  I've  heard  that  Tilikum  is  the  father  of  all  or  most  of  the  captive  born  orca.  Is  this
true?
19)  How  do  we  better  integrate  data  from  free-­‐ranging  killer  whales  across  research   groups  and  ocean  regions  where  they  are  expected  to  range,  particularly  with  respect
to  group  connectivity  and  health.
20)   Can   orca   captivity   be   justified,   given   the   documented   health   and   welfare   implications?
21)   Besides   the   potential   risk   to   the   trainers,   what   makes   the   captivity   of   Orcas
different  from  captivity  of  other  cetaceans,  e.g.  bottlenose  dolphins?
22)  There  are  currently  52  orcas  in  captivity  globally  including  22  in  the  US.  Recently   the  Georgia  Aquarium,  on  behalf  of  SeaWorld  and  other  US  aquariums,  claimed  in  its   application   for   a   permit   to   import   18   wild   caught   beluga   whales   that,   based   on   a   genetic   analysis,   18   wild   caught   whales   were   needed   to   supplement   the   existing   36
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animals  currently  in  captivity  in  the  US  in  order  to  create  a  captive  population  that  is
“self-­‐sustaining”  and  to  “reduce  the  demand  for  wild-­‐caught  beluga  whales  for  public   display.”   In   light   of   this   information,   has   there   been   an   analysis   done   of   the   genetic   diversity   of   orcas   in   captivity,   what   was   the   result   of   that   analysis,   and   are   there   presently  sufficient  numbers  of  orcas  in  captivity  to  eliminate  the  need  for  any  future   wild  captures?
23)  It  is  difficult  to  pose  a  question  without  first  hearing  the  arguments  of  the  panel.
Therefore,  I  am  offering  a  point  of  discussion.  There  is  a  lot  of  debate  about  whether   or   not   killer   whales   (or   other   cetaceans)   should   be   maintained   in   captivity.   As   is   evident  in  the  movie  "Blackfish".  When  considering  what  side  of  the  argument  you  are   on,  I  challenge  the  panel  to  consider  the  physiological  data  that  has  been  collected  on   captive   marine   mammals   that   would   not   have   otherwise   been   possible.   Information   that  has  allowed  us  to  look  at  the  effects  of  sound,  to  construct  bioenergetics  models   for   marine   mammals,   and   to   examine   the   diving   physiology   of   these   animals.   All   of   these  studies  have  provided  valuable  data  that  could  not  have  been  collected  on  wild   animals.   Yet   these   data   have   been   critical   in   shaping   policy   decisions   regarding   wild   marine  mammal  interactions  with  Navy  sonar  testing,  commercial  fisheries,  and  eco-­‐ tourism.  Admittedly,  Killer  whales  that  are  in  captivity  should  be  more  readily  available   for   scientific   studies,   that   are   humane   and   relatively   non-­‐invasive.   Nonetheless,   we   should   not   release   captive   killer   whales   back   into   the   wild.   That   approach   was   used
with  Free  Willy  (Keiko),  and  he  ultimately  died  of  starvation.
24)  I  am  not  in  favor  of  extracting  additional  killer  whales  from  the  wild,  rather  I  think   we  should  learn  from  the  ones  that  already  reside  in  aquaria.
25)   The   killer   whale   is   a   major   marine   predator.   As   their   primary   ecological   and   behavioral  role  is  no  longer  possible  in  captivity,  how  are  these  needs  addressed  and   what  impacts  are  there  on  denying  these  intrinsic  behaviors?
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