Here's a story about their new whale watching technique. Drone shows life and death of killer whales - CNN.com
False Killer Whale calf, Chester, is doing well. They just doubled his pool depth and he is developing and growing nicely. Facebook says he's still considered to be in critical condition but he's healthy. From a calf they didnt think would survive the day he was rescued, two months in he certainly seems to be thriving. I think with a little luck they can pull him through this critical stage in his life much to everyones surprise. And to think in the days following his rescue there were calls to just put him down. Even if he were to pass away tomorrow the staff have learned so much from him that they can use to save other calves. Forget the things he has taught them about false killer whale calf development in general.
More news on Chester. Chester the false killer whale gaining weight, says Vancouver Aquarium - British Columbia - CBC News
This is great news! Is that how people really think these days, that someone would automatically rather be dead than alive in a non traditional living environment?
Chester is not actually at the aquarium. He is being held at their rehab center located somewhere else in BC. I don't remember where. I don't know that he will ever go on display at the aquarium. He will have to stay in captivity having been virtually a newborn (days, maybe a week or two old) when he was found stranded. I don't know if they have the space to keep him. There may be another place better suited to his needs. Maybe one with other false killer whales.
Like I said earlier, maybe he could go to the University of Hawaii and be with their female, if they were interested. But they are a research facility, he might not fit in with their goals. The only other place I can think of outside of Asia that has something remotely similar is Sea Life Park in Oahu, they have the famous Wolphin, I forget what her name is. This might anger some people but I know that at least SeaWorld Orlando has had FKW in the past. They also have Pilot Whales, a close relative of the FKW currently. They might be a good place. Also SeaWorld San Diego has Pilot Whales, and it has the advantage of being somewhat closer. There's also the option of sending him to Japan, but it is farther away and given that Japanese aquaria are currently under fire for acquiring animals from the drive hunts this might not be a popular option. Another thing they could do (and I think that this will be the least likely option, along with going to the University of Hawaii) would be to build him an accommodation in Vancouver and possibly get another species on loan to be his companions, probably Bottlenose Dolphins because the two species have been kept together before and getting a few captive bred specimens on loan to be his companions might not be too difficult.
Sorry Wensleydale I remembered something was said but chose the lazy route and didnt look it up. I agree with you keeping him a the aquarium is highly unlikely given the current issues they are having with the park committee or board... whatever it is. At this point they are probably too focused on getting him passed his first critical year then will look to his future. Why plan for what might not come?
I know quite a few things about Chester thanks to my line of work and the people involved in it, however its not necessarily information I can dole out freely, sadly. All I will say is that VanAqua is more than capable of housing Chester long term, and he will not be leaving North America.
Interesting I have never really known you to have a defeatist attitude. I find you pretty realistic about things but not overly negative. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Nothing wrong with calling things as you see them. Hopefully you didn't read my comment as being defeatist. I wasn't trying to be doom and gloom. I have the greatest hopes for Chester. But I am realistic enough to know young whales, dolphins and porpoises are at their most vulnerable during their first year of life under the best circumstances. I just assumed that the aquarium, given all their cautious statements about his health, wont plan too far ahead. They got him passed those first major hurdles to his survival after the stranding and they are probably focused solely on his next hurdle whatever that may be. Once they know he has a great shot at surviving they can start thinking about his future in a serious way. But right now they probably are taking things simply one day at a time. I had considered typing more but got a phone call so just pressed post reply. Ok this will sound stupid but would Hawaii be included in North America? Its a US state but not part of the continent. I honestly dont know how its classified. The question has nothing to do with where Chester is going.
I can be, and in past times I was a real defeatist, this coincided with a period of mental health problems that began around the period that I began to really think abstractly e.g. around my 14th birthday or so, and resolved in my early 20 after years of psychotherapy and the sudden acquisition of a sense of purpose (I found something to do with my life). Its a long story, but I have to find mental ways to compensate or I could reawaken the monster I refer to as wensleydale (it sounds better in real life, my real name starts with an m) the paranoid android. Sounds funny, but when you are the actual person living it. Also, it occurred to me that once it is obvious he is stable it might be in his best interest to be introduced to a companion as soon as resonably possible, I worry he might get to the point where he thinks he's an ape as opposed to a dolphin and begins to wonder when his legs will grow. Then again he might have had enough time to imprint on other FKW before his stranding. Of course God only knows how the other FKW were treating him out there. I'm also feeling optimistic about him. And the earlier he is introduced to others, if he needs to go live with another species, the easier he might integrate. For political purposes, I consider Hawaii to be part of North America, however I also consider Honolulu to be the capital of Polynesia. The joys of living in an insanely large, megadiverse country.
I agree with you it might be best to get introduce him to any similar species as soon as possible. He needs to know he is a whale and not a person. They will do what they can to correct that as soon as they can though. He needs to be big and strong enough to make whatever journey is necessary, whether that be a drive to the Aquarium or a trip to Orlando (just picked the closest and furthest of the options). Hopefully all goes well when he reaches that point.
Ah...shame....thanks anyway. What about the Harbour Porpoise - are these on display? I will be in Vancouver in 2 weeks and hoping to get to see them at least?
I think the porpoise would be but I don't go to the aquarium living across the country. Try talking to Snowleopard. If any of us can answer all your questions about the aquarium it would be him.
The 2 Harbour Porpoises are on permanent display and I sent Newzooboy a private message to give him more information. Thanks for suggesting my name as I visit Vancouver Aquarium 7-8 times a year and thus am aware of a lot of things going on there.
Hey if anyone knows anything about a zoo or aquarium in North America you would always be one of the first people I would suggest someone talk to.
Someone called Jeff Matthews wrote an editorial claiming that the VA is gaming the system. Let me guess, his side has done more system gaming in recent times than the VA has. Could someone please tell me who is so I can do a more sophisticated job of disliking him.
Huffingtonpost refers to him as a scientist and activist: huffingtonpost.ca As should be evident from the above he is an activist associated with groups that are against any animals being kept in captivity. It is also clear that his scientific background is in an entirely different field (physics). He regularly writes for thedodo.com, which is about as anti-zoo (whether it involves cetaceans or other animals) as any site you can find.
