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TEDx Talk “Whales Without Walls” by Charles Vinick

Posted January 6, 2018 in News by Michael Mountain

In this November 2017 TEDx talk, Charles Vinick, Executive Director of the Whale Sanctuary Project, describes what he’s learned over many years about orca and beluga whales, in the wild and in captivity, about who they are and what it’s like for them to be kept in concrete tanks, and about the growing movement to bring an end to having whales on display in marine parks and aquariums.

“Whales,” he says, “should not have to live in concrete tanks.”

Whale and dolphin shows have been commonplace for the last four decades. But this story is changing. And today some of the most active whale advocates are former marine park trainers. Why? Because they know the animals and they love these animals.

“Whales should not have to perform for their supper and our entertainment.”

In the 1990s, Charles managed the pioneering effort to reintroduce to the wild the captive orca Keiko made famous through the Free Willy films. He describes how, on one of Keiko’s ocean outings from his sea pen off the coast of Iceland, he was approached by a group of wild orcas and how this experience reinforced his understanding that these animals are sentient beings.

“When the wild whales got about a mile from Keiko, they separated into three groups with five whales continuing toward Keiko, one group going wide to the east and one group going wide to the west. What I watched from the air looked like a classic military pincher movement.

“The five whales swam directly to Keiko, they all thrashed around for a few seconds and the five swam on while Keiko returned to our boat. Once the five were well past Keiko, the groups from east and west re-joined them and they all went on together.

“What had we witnessed? A plan to deal with something – or someone – unknown to the group, the execution of the plan to deal with the unknown while not risking the safety of the group, and communication among the team. We had hydrophones in the water the whole time and did not record a single sound from Keiko or the wild whales in advance of the actual encounter. Yet, they knew he was there and they dealt with it – as a group.”

It took more than four years for Keiko to truly spend extended periods of time with wild whales. In the summer of 2002, in the company of orcas, he left Iceland and swam more than 1,000 miles to a fjord in Norway, where he befriended local fishermen and townspeople. His caregivers from the Keiko Project came to the fjord to watch over and care for him, and he was free to come and go. But he never reunited with his family.

“We have always known that it is very easy to capture a whale, but what we learned is that it is very difficult to put one back.”

So, how can we give back to other whales who are still held in concrete tanks something of the life that we’ve taken from them?

“The best solution is to build natural seaside sanctuaries where captive whales and dolphins can live out their lives in an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible.”

Charles describes the work that’s being undertaken by the Whale Sanctuary Project to create the first such sanctuary.

“It’s a bold vision, but these animals have raised tens of millions of dollars for their owners and entertained millions of people. Don’t we owe them something?”

12 Comments

  • Dawn Strecker says:
    September 10, 2022 at 7:16 AM

    I have been advocating for Lolita/ Tokitae for years now. There is a huge movement to bring her back to her home waters in the Salish Sea. Where her family the LPod still swim, We need to keep the pressure on the new owners of The Miami Seaquarium now The Dolphin Company .

    Reply
  • LM says:
    December 20, 2021 at 4:39 AM

    These are wonderful, amazing, intelligent sentient beings. They are majestic and powerful oceanic animals that must not be held in captivity! They were created to have families, socialize and display their wonder in the oceans, not cement tanks!

    Reply
  • Connie Titus says:
    August 4, 2020 at 4:33 PM

    Hopefully it’s a place to transition them back to their natural habitat. It’s great getting them out of the Tanks and away from the Sea World type of environment. I applaud everyone for all their dedication and hard work. Thank you!! Keep up the good work until no animals are is left in the Tanks of any amusement park, zoo or held in captivity for the greed/entertainment of humans.

    Reply
  • Sarah White says:
    September 25, 2018 at 2:10 AM

    Thank you, this is something we should all embrace and try to help make a reality.
    #emptythetanks
    #captivitykills
    #dontbuyaticket

    Reply
  • Oscar Novak says:
    August 22, 2018 at 1:17 PM

    The amount of damage human beings have caused to all the other species we share our planet with is incalculable. It is time now for all compassionate people to help these truly wonderful intelligent family-based mammals. Cetaceans are very similar to elephants and the great apes (in regards to intelligence, emotion, and family bonds). For far too long, humans have profited at the expense and misery of other species. Just for once, let us forget about profit. Let’s all make a donation to this wonderful cause for cetaceans. Give them the sanctuary they deserve. Let’s bring these wonderful sentient beings home. Every species deserves compassion and love!

    Reply
  • Carole says:
    June 13, 2018 at 3:48 PM

    Thank you more than words can say, helping these majestic, super family orientated/intelligent animals!!🐳🐳🐳🐳🐋🐋🐋🐬🐬🐬🐬

    Reply
  • Cindy says:
    March 25, 2018 at 9:22 AM

    What if there is a big storm? Won’t it be dangerous for them to be stuck inside of this enclosure on the surf?

    Reply
    • Michael Mountain says:
      March 25, 2018 at 10:34 AM

      That is, indeed, one of the many considerations that have to be addressed in choosing the best location. The finalist sites have to be protected from major storms.

      Reply
    • eB says:
      September 8, 2020 at 11:13 AM

      RE: Storms & Sea Mammal Enclosures
      At DRC in Marathon, FL, before the hurricanes the dolphins get a neoprene band comfortably placed over their fluke base to identify them. They open the enclosures, before the storm, the mammals swim back after. Perhaps a version of this would work for the whales.

      Reply
  • Lisa de VIlliers says:
    February 7, 2018 at 12:58 AM

    Thank you for all the work you do for these amazing beings. I hold my breath for the day there are no concrete tanks. My heart breaks for their suffering and I am so grateful that there are wonderful people like you out there on their side and wish there was more that I could do. Keep fighting, we are behind you ^j^ ^j^ ^j^

    Reply
  • Bonnie Gretz says:
    January 14, 2018 at 6:58 PM

    Thank you for your work on this….we’re so hopeful Lolita/Tokitae can come home to our Puget Sound

    Reply
  • Sharon says:
    January 14, 2018 at 6:00 PM

    Yes we certainly do. Thanks a million times over for continuing to save these magnificent beings.
    Whales and Dolphins sentient beings, with infinite intelligence.

    Reply

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