US Marines Plan to Release Orca – Monday 7th August 2023

US Marines Plan to Release Orca – Monday 7th August 2023

In the past there have been occasions where I very much wanted to contribute some thoughts to an event or situation, and didn’t, only to regret not doing so.
I’m not being a know-all, but there are things that occur to me that just may not occur to others.

I think this is a wonderful thing that the US is going to try to do for this Orca old dear. I realise this is going to be a costly exercise and everyone will be so disappointed if it isn’t successful. I have some thoughts that I think may help to make it successful.

Because these Orca have been in pools, dealing with humans every day and for a very, lengthy time, they lose life skills, (which I’m sure the experts realise).
It’s possible that a pod may initially be friendly to such an Orca but the released Orca isn’t able to contribute to the pod in the usual way, at least not initially and there is going to be culture shock. Sharks etc, catching food, stamina and of course the released Orcas life experience is so different to that of the wild Orca pod.

My suggestion is to release a pair. Then this pair of Orca old dears will have each other, shared experience, the ability to protect each other, hunt and increase stamina together.

If this turned into success, then other Orcas that might be suitable for release, could later join this pair and form their own group, if necessary. Relearning those skills from Orca, that know and understand what’s required.
Rejection from a wild pod would be disastrous for a single Orca, but much less so for a pair.
Fiona MacLeod (C)