Name the next WA ferry "Tokitae"

Sponsored by:
Orca Network

The WA Transportation Commission is looking for suggestions for the 2nd new 64-car ferry (for the Keystone-Pt. Townsend run) now under construction (http://www.wstc.wa.gov/Naming/FerryNamingProposal.pdf).

Orca Network suggests that this ferry be named "Tokitae." ... Tokitae is a Coastal Salish greeting, used all around the Salish Sea, meaning "Nice day, pretty colors." Tokitae was also the name given to the orca captured at Penn Cove, near Keystone, in 1970 who is still alive in Miami at a marine park. Her clan, the Southern Resident Community, was declared endangered under the ESA in 2005. Orcas are the Washington State marine mammal and 2010 is the 4th consecutive year that June has been proclaimed "Orca Awareness Month" by the Governor.

Sign the petition here.
Signature goal: 1,000

It May Take An Act Of Congress To Help Lolita

Please read more about the orca "Lolita" here.

Five Resolutions You Can Make To Help The Orcas.

Please visit our Seattle Post Intelligencer blog to see ways that you can make a difference for the Southern Resident orcas in the next decade:

Five Resolutions You Can Make To Help The Orcas

Have A Heart SeaWorld, And Let Corky Go Home

 It is time to bring the captives home, read more on our Seattle P.I. blogsite!

 

 

 

 

 

Corky (Courtesy OrcaNetwork and OrcaLab)

Farmed Salmon Are Really Bad News - For Us, for Wild or Captive Orcas, and for the Environment

Included in a serving of farmed salmon are 14 known toxins in much greater concentrations than wild caught salmon.

Click on over to our blog at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to learn why you should avoid eating this product, and why fish farming is harmful to the orcas (including the captive orca "Lolita"):

http://blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhiting/

When Lolita Comes Swimming Home Again

Orca Network's Howard Garrett has dedicated his time and effort into the "Free Lolita" campaign, and shares his views here with us.

Written by Howard Garrett

Recent photo of L-pod member "Lolita", taken by Shelby Proie on April 2, 2009

Hopefully the USDA will inspect and measure the concrete bowl where Lolita has lived the past 39 years and will find it unlawful under the Animal Welfare Act, and $1-2 million can be found to examine her, transport her to a bay pen along the west side of San Juan Island, and set up a care station with a freezer full of fish and professional care staff. It's all been done before and poses no real risk to her or to her family, but many may wonder what will happen then for Lolita.

After her return to her home waters, as she regains her strength and is led out on swims to experience her waters again, Lolita will be the focus of tremendous attention in the Pacific Northwest and far beyond. Of course security at the bay pen will prevent direct observations except by authorized personnel and media, but live webcam coverage and stories about her can be expected to abound locally, nationally and internationally.

Recent photo of some of "Lolita's" pod members, taken by Howard Garrett on June 21, 2009

When someone reads or sees a story about Lolita they will usually tend to care a little more about how she's doing. The reports will also tell about her family, L-25 and the L-12 subpod as well as all the Southern Resident orcas. People will learn about the orcas' long lifespans, lifetime bonding and no dispersal traditions. They'll hear about these orcas' selective diet - about 80% Chinook salmon and 15% chum - and the need to restore salmon habitat and reduce Chinook catches all along the Pacific coast to keep the orcas around. This alone justifies her return home.

Scientifically, we'll learn if Lolita's family bonds and memories are so strong that she will be able to travel, catch fish and socialize with her family, and we'll see the process of rebuilding the trust needed to do so. If she's not able to rejoin her family, the care station will always be there for her with food and companionship if needed.

Humans live according to their stories, and whales provide great inspiration for all ages to learn more and then act to protect and restore the natural world. When kids hear about Lolita and her retirement where she was raised decades ago, many will want to know more, and will do research and feel moved to write their views about orcas and create artwork about them, developing important language skills and learning how to do good science.

Where Orcas Swim Free (Photo by Katie Jones)

The benefits of retiring Lolita in the Salish Sea won't be easy to measure in dollars, but as a learning and sharing experience among the human community, and as a motivator toward better stewardship and protection of our precious marine environment, Lolita would be a priceless teacher for us all.

By Howard Garrett