OrcaLab News - December 11th, 2003 Corky's sad anniversary

Today, December 11 th 2003, marks the 34 th anniversary of the tragic day that Corky's family, the A5 pod of the "northern resident" community of British Columbia orcas, passed through the narrow entrance of Pender Harbour during a fierce winter storm and had their lives forever changed.   Perhaps the whales were seeking shelter or chasing a school of fish, or investigating an unfamiliar space.   It is even possible that they were looking for clues about the group of 7 close relatives that had disappeared in that place the year before.   We will never know.   What we do know is that 6 members of the family were taken into captivity on that fateful day, and that of them Corky is the sole survivor.   Corky has survived longer than any other captive orca, so in a sense she is living on borrowed time.   However, because female orcas in the wild live an average of 50 years, in another sense she is still in the prime of her life.   This means that Corky could still return to the ocean and resume a normal life with her family and community.... if she is given a chance.   We remain determined to get Corky that chance.  

Please join us in remembering Corky on this sad day, and on every day that follows until she is finally free.   We invite you to participate in the world wide campaign to free Corky by visiting http://www.orcalab.org/corky-a16/help/index.htm and following the simple suggestions you will find there.