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Penn Cove orca captures: Difference between revisions
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The first capture at Penn Cove had taken place in 1965, when a young [[Orca - Orcinus orca|orca]] was captured off the coast of California and sold to a theme park in San Diego. The success of this capture sparked a rush to capture more orcas, and soon, a network of capture boats and holding facilities was established to capture and transport orcas. | The first capture at Penn Cove had taken place in 1965, when a young [[Orca - Orcinus orca|orca]] was captured off the coast of California and sold to a theme park in San Diego. The success of this capture sparked a rush to capture more orcas, and soon, a network of capture boats and holding facilities was established to capture and transport orcas. | ||
On August, 8 1970 a group of orcas were spotted in Penn Cove, a calm inlet on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island. The orcas were a pod of southern resident killer whales, a genetically distinct population of orcas that inhabit the waters of the Pacific Northwest. At the time | On August, 8 1970 a group of orcas were spotted in Penn Cove, a calm inlet on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island. The orcas were a pod of southern resident killer whales, a genetically distinct population of orcas that inhabit the waters of the Pacific Northwest. At the time the southern resident population was relatively unknown and there were no laws or regulations governing their capture. | ||
A team of capture boats quickly descended on the pod, using nets and explosives to herd the orcas into a small area of the cove. During the next few weeks, dozens of orcas were captured, with some estimates putting the number as high as 60. <sup>[citation needed]</sup> | A team of capture boats quickly descended on the pod, using nets and explosives to herd the orcas into a small area of the cove. During the next few weeks, dozens of orcas were captured, with some estimates putting the number as high as 60. <sup>[citation needed]</sup> | ||