**Two have now died - follow link at bottom of page for details**
[February 14, 1997] For the first time in eight years, an entire family of orca whales was
chased and cornered and captured. It happened February 7, in Japan. The
whales have reportedly been sold to Japanese aquariums for one and a quarter
million dollars.
Japanese newspapers confirm what the consulate is saying here in Seattle: that there are exceptional circumstances when Japan is "allowed" to capture whales.
But opponents aren't buying he argument of scientific research. Activists, including actress Brigette Bardot, have now unleashed a torrent of protest letters and faxes to the Japanese government. They say we've already learned the difficult lesson of what happens to whales in captivity: if they survive the capture at all, they're doomed to a short, unhappy life.
Already, they claim two of the five newly captured orcas are at risk: a female who's pregnant, and a young calf. The Japanese government insists the orcas are just fine. Right now the whales are held in three separate pens just off Taiji, Japan... south of Tokyo. Officials tell KOMO News 4 the whales will undergo physical exams, and spend perhaps a month there before going to various aquariums in Japan.
Wildlife advocates fighting to free the whales have set up a page with more
information about the capture and what to do if you're troubled by this.