For a population of animals to grow and thrive, the first requirement will always be adult specimens of both genders that have reached reproductive age. The more whales mating in a region, the bigger the area pods can grow. With the 17 month long gestation period necessary to produce a baby orca, population growth can be understandably slow without a high level of breeding activity. Female orcas are especially essential, as one of these is required for each and every infant birth. A male is involved, too, of course, but a single energetic and virile male can impregnate an entire pod of females. The marine mammal entertainment industry was aware of this fact when they began harvesting orca whales in the late 1960s.

In 1965, the first captive orca was placed on display, and the general public soon lost their fear of "killer" whales, as they discovered the gentleness and intelligence of these majestic creatures. At this point, the tables turned, and the animals that had once reigned solely as predators suddenly became prey. Marine parks, such as SeaWorld, organized/supported violent round-ups in the Pacific Northwest to stock their facilities with a popular new showpiece - the killer whale. These captures targeted young, trainable orcas, with an emphasis on females that could be used in park breeding programs.

Orca captures affecting the Southern Resident populations were conducted in the Salish Sea from 1966 - 1973. During this brief period, 45 orcas were taken from the Southern Resident pods to live in captivity. This number is more than half of the current total population of J, K, and L-pods. In addition, 13 more orcas lost their lives amidst the violence surrounding the captures.

Stolen family members made for a drastic population reduction in the wild whale pods of the late 20th century, but the after-effects of this travesty have continued on through today. Because so many young females were abducted from the Southern Resident orca pods, fewer remain to reproduce. For example, Lolita, the last captive survivor of the infamous 1970 Penn Cove round-up, is one of many lost Southern Residents who could, if swimming free with her pod, be actively breeding and restoring the local population. A healthy female orca will give birth to a calf approximately once every 5 years.

Is there any way to repair the damage inflicted upon the Southern Residents by past captures? As wild whale round-ups are no longer legal, it has become a case of 'what's done is done'. There is no way to bring back the many orca whales that have died in captivity, but a glimmer of hope remains in the idea that Lolita could be successfully reunited with her L-pod family where she would potentially mate and reproduce. Click HERE to read the full proposal for Lolita's retirement into the wild Puget Sound.