There’s a place I know in Ontario where an orca lives entirely alone

And that orca’s name is Kiska.

Kiska is Canada’s only captive orca and lives in a pool at Marineland, Niagara. Approximately 40 years ago, Kiska was captured off the shores of Iceland when she was only two years old.

Since then, Kiska has birthed five calves in this establishment; however, each one of her has died – her oldest living to be only five years old.

Orcas are highly intelligent beings with a vast emotional capacity. In the wild, these animals live in complex social pods. They even have their own cultural dialect passed on through generations. They have a tight grasp on the world around them, and they possess a thorough understanding of loss and grief.

Kiska has experienced multiple tragedies in her lifetime and it’s time to show her some mercy; the relocation of Kiska to larger establishment with other orcas to interact with would be ideal for her emotional well-being.

It has been reported that since the death of Kiska’s last calf, her health has been gradually declining.

Recent photos that have been released and published on various media outlets show the alleged deterioration of Kiska’s dorsal fin as well as a sunken blow-hole, typically caused by malnutrition. This condition is generally referred to as peanut head, according to sources.

Apparent deterioration of dorsal fin.

As per the OSPCA Standards of Care Act:

 “Wildlife kept in captivity must be provided with a daily routine that facilitates

and stimulates natural movement and behaviour.”

According to sources, Kiska does not have such a routine: you can find her either floating idly in her tank or circling its edges.

 “Wildlife kept in captivity must be kept in compatible social groups to ensure

the general welfare of the individual animals and of the group…”

Kiska has been referred to as the “world’s loneliest orca” by various professionals and animal advocacy groups.

 “Every animal must be provided with adequate and appropriate food and

water.”

According to sources, Kiska receives a diet of dead fish and Jello. The Jello is to compensate for the fact that dead fish simply do not have a high enough water content for such a large animal. (This has not been confirmed with Marineland officials).

 “A pen or other enclosed structure or area for wildlife kept in captivity must

be of an adequate and appropriate size,

(a) to facilitate and stimulate natural movement and behaviour;

(b) to enable each animal in the pen or other enclosed structure or area to keep an

adequate and appropriate distance from the other animals and people so that it

is not psychologically stressed…”

Her tank must have “one or more areas that are out of view of spectators.”

Kiska’s enclosure is much too small for her, making it impossible for her to swim as if she would in the wild. She also has nowhere to seek refuge from onlookers, which could easily result in psychological stress.

Multiple sources have confirmed that Kiska has absolutely no enrichment in her pool, and that the only source of stimulation she has is when her trainers interact with her.

And of course, it is important for each enclosure of any captive animal to be sanitary; however, sources say that Kiska’s tank has clouded, murky water with litter floating in it. The water is also chlorinated, which is no secret because she lives in stagnant water.

Kiska has a large group of activists fighting for her release to a sea pen, or even to be given to SeaWorld where she can at least be with other orcas.

We see you. We hear you. We’re here.

Read more about Kiska in the media:

Marineland’s killer whale is ill, animal rights group says

Save Kiska from Marineland (Youtube)

So, how can you help?

First and foremost, please take a moment to sign this petition to urge the release of Kiska to a sea pen or amore appropriate facility.

Now, take another moment to e-mail, call, and write the OSPCA to ask them why they aren’t upholding their Standards of Care:

16586 Woodbine Avenue, RR 3
Newmarket, ON L3Y 4W1
Phone: 905-898-7122
Toll Free: 1-888-ONT-SPCA
Fax: 905-853-8643         

E-mail: cruelty@ospca.on.ca

Lastly, please show your support for the following groups by liking them on Facebook, following them on Twitter, and subscribing to their channels on Youtube!

Like Ontario Captive Animal Watch on Facebook, subscribe to their  Youtube channel, and follow them on Twitter to stay updated on Kiska @OCAW_2014

TIP: use the #freekiska hashtag and tweet them! (Don’t forget to tweet and follow me too: @LauraOCAW)

Like Fins and Fluke on Facebook, follow them on Twitter: @FinsandFluke 

Do the same for Orca United, follow them on Twitter: @OrcaUnited 

And don’t forget Orca Conservancy, follow them on Twitter: @OrcaConservancy

 

*I am not responsible for any opinions expressed in the comment section. The statements in this article belong to me and are not a reflection of any animal welfare organization. All statements made in this article were made according to other sources, including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Moving Forward with Ontario Captive Animal Watch

Here at Ontario Captive Animal Watch, we would like to extend our gratitude for the continuous support. Our Facebook page has nearly 800 supporters already, and our posts have reached 2,500 people as well. That’s an enormous milestone for OCAW, which only started not even a year ago.

Ever since our launch in January 2014, OCAW has grown tremendously. We have conducted countless investigations and involved ourselves in the anti-declawing protests when Bowmanville Zoo announced that they were going to declaw their lion cubs in September 2014. Our efforts, along with multiple over animal activists, resulted in the Bowmanville Zoo to have a change of heart.

On October 5, the zoo operator and vet agreed to speak with OCAW’s Director of Animal Behavior and Health Dr. Gitte Fenger regarding the physical and mental repercussions of declawing.

Shortly thereafter, the zoo announced their plan to end their declawing program and no longer declaw big cats in the future. It was even more of a victory that CityTV covered the good news here.

Photo by CBC

Over the winter season, OCAW will be establishing its non-profit status and will soon be accepting donations (this will be explored later), we will be developing a new campaign to be launched in 2015, and we will be designing a captive animal welfare presentation for both elementary schools and high schools.

Something that OCAW holds in high esteem is education using our investigative experience and photographs. These presentations will equip children and adolescences with the tools they need to identify acceptable and unacceptable animal behavior and health in both zoos and aquariums.

As an organization, OCAW is incredibly excited to move forward and accomplish more with your support. Please like us on Facebook to remain updated!

Ontario Captive Animal Watch: An Overview, Though Brief

First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone for reading this blog – I am one of Ontario Captive Animal Watch’s Directors and investigators. This blog is owned by me personally and is separate from OCAW. Using this blog as a medium, I will update readers on OCAW’s latest activities as well as other activism involvements that are unrelated to OCAW.

A disclaimer: sometimes I will withhold certain information to maintain the integrity of our investigations. At the moment, I can confirm we are actively investigating in establishments throughout the GTA. Please refer to our Facebook page for any updates that we release!

For those of you unfamiliar with OCAW, we are a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating captive animal establishments such as aquariums,circuses, and zoos. Post-investigation, it is our duty to generate reports using photographic evidence. We aim to negotiate with the establishment owners to improve conditions where we see fit, contact the appropriate authorities to enforce change, and educate the public by raising awareness.

Recently, we have been active at Marineland in a collaborative effort to relocate Kiska, the establishment’s only orca. Kiska is completely alone and has received an abundance of media attention lately regarding her alleged deterioration. The orca’s teeth are nearly gone, her dorsal fin has deteriorated, and there seems to be a collapse beneath her blow-hole. These changes have been documented over a period of time by OCAW investigators and her health appears to be rapidly declining.

In Ontario, there are two aquariums, two travelling circuses that use animals, and an unknown number of zoos – many of which are privately owned and unaccredited.

Here at OCAW, we work from the top down – extending our communication from legislators, the media, and the community.

Stay connected to our investigations:

Like us on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter: @OCAW_2014.

Ontario: Your Exotic Pet Trade Capital

That’s right – according to Global News, Ontario is one of the easiest provinces to buy an exotic animal. Watch the video below (it is also OCAW’s first media appearance):

http://globalnews.ca/video/1326634/ontario-one-of-easiest-provinces-to-buy-an-exotic-animal

After watching this, you’d think the OSPCA knows what they’re talking about, right? Wrong. On May 3, 2014, the OSPCA was called to investigate the Tiger Paw Exotic Animal Auction but apparently they do not have any agents available on the weekends (or after business hours). Makes sense, right? I mean, it is common knowledge that people who abuse animals only do so on week days from 9-5 as well – they totally take weekends off.

The OSPCA continues to generate excuses as to why they are not present where they need to be – they did this when it came to the Stouffville Country Market as well (where live animals are packed into onion bags and transported via customers’ car trunks). This complete absence of accountability is getting out of control. The OSPCA receives millions of dollars to get their shit together and they still haven’t done it.

Ontario Captive Animal Watch: An Introduction

Ontario Captive Animal Watch (OCAW) is a grassroots organization that investigates and exposes substandard living conditions that animals are subjected to in the entertainment and sales industry across Ontario, Canada. 

So, who are we?

OCAW was founded in early 2014 by co-founders Nicholas Wilvert and Cary Nice. As individuals, the members of OCAW each have a lot of unique experiences and backgrounds that they bring to the organization – varying from investigation to photography and journalism.  

And what do we do exactly?

OCAW is all about investigation, exposure, and education. Ontario has two aquarium attractions, two travelling seasonal circuses (that use animals in their performances), a multitude of privately and publicly owned zoos, a large amount of animal breeders (puppy mills included), auctions, markets, and stores. 

Each member of OCAW has a responsibility to thoroughly understand the OSPCA Standards of Care Act and the CAZA Accreditation Standards. This is important to us because it lends us credibility as far as our knowledge goes – we know what is illegal and we know how it needs to be corrected. 

Regarding the CAZA Accreditation Standards, there are many zoos and aquariums that do not adhere to the standards but are CAZA Accredited regardless. It is our goal to inspect those establishments and report them accordingly. 

We exist because many organizations are notorious for disregarding neglectful conditions if certain species are involved – namely livestock, small animals, and fowl. The OSPCA, for instance, did not come to the Tiger Paw Exotic Animal Auction because they did not consider the situation to be life-threatening to an animal (meanwhile, we had an ailing goat kid in our lap who needed emergency veterinary care).

This is why we exist; if our reports are disregarded, we fall back on the next best thing: exposure. This is because no one has more control over industries than the people who support them. If you attend the zoo, circus, aquarium or if you buy from pet stores, auctions, or markets then you are our primary target.

It is our goal to achieve change through public outreach, social media, and educational demonstrations. Some of our goals include (but are not limited to): ending the private ownership of exotic animals, aiding in the permanent closure of zoos, circuses,aquariums, and sales which have demonstrated cruelty and generally unsafe for the public. 

Moving forward, any animal rescued during our efforts will be relocated to an appropriate sanctuary for their species (if they can not be safely released back into the wild). We aim to provide support to reputable sanctuaries throughout Ontario. 

Please click here to like our Facebook page. Become a part of the OCAW movement. Your support is our treasure. 

IMPORTANT: tune-in to Global News tomorrow (time to be announced on the OCAW Facebook page). Global News will be doing a segment on the sale of exotic animals in Ontario, which will include an interview with OCAW co-founder Nicholas Wilvert. 

 

700

Do you have five dollars to spare? If so, then you can get into the Tiger Paw Exotic Animal auction – I paid in change. The auction took place at the Orangeville Fairgrounds this year. I went with a newly founded animal welfare organization called Ontario Captive Animal Watch (OCAW), which I’m a member of.

On the premises, you can find exotic animals in the “warm room” for viewing, and you can find hoofstock in the back of the building in pens. Yesterday – May 3, you could see a variety of miniature ponies, donkeys, and llamas, as well as two zebras, a very young, lone bison, and 700, a pygmy goat kid in need of immediate veterinary care. This is a story about 700, who became more than just a number when we showed him love he’s presumably never received.

We arrived early and observed the conditions for a few hours – stealthily photographing what we saw while biting our tongues. The conditions were abhorrent: many cages were too small and overcrowded, there were young animals who had been separated from their mothers too early, as well as injured, miserable, and generally stressed out animals. Among them was 700 – he was bloated, shaking, and malnourished. He was penned with a sheep and an unaltered male goat who would continuously head-butt the young goat, causing him to topple over. He was lethargic, sick, and needed emergency care as soon as possible.

A woman, who we will call Jane for the sake of anonymity, joined us in our observation of the market. She played a large role in 700’s story and how it unfolds. After observing 700 and the horrible state of an endangered hyacinth macaw (photo below), Jane contacted the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The OSPCA was contacted as well but no animal cruelty investigator was available to inspect the auction (they have no agents on duty or on-call during the weekends or after business hours).

An OMAFRA investigator was sent to inspect the conditions officially and, according to her, this year’s auction was significantly worse than last year’s. I ended up losing track of the investigator and she doesn’t show up until the end of the story.

After Jane spoke with Tiger Paw owner Tim Height regarding the severity of 700’s health, he actually agreed to give the goat to us so we could get him help (at our expense). Height found us a box large enough for the goat and we made our way out of the building. We needed to act quickly as it was apparent that 700’s health was steadily declining – he could hardly stand at this point. He was fragile and too weak to hold his head up. His eyes were gradually closing – his body was exhausted from exerting energy all day.

700 was vulnerable and was now in our hands. As he laid in one of our laps, wrapped in a blanket, we were on our phones trying to contact available veterinarians and people with farms who were able to take him in. While we were on our phones and waiting for saviours to return our messages, we were comforting the young goat as well. We were sure he wasn’t going to make it if we didn’t find help soon. It was apparent that he was slowly fading; that he was slowly letting go. That this 700 would soon be zero, much to our despair. That wasn’t going to happen though – not without a fight.

After waiting anxiously to find hope for dear 700, we finally had a breakthrough: the Town and Country Animal Hospital in Stouffville managed to squeeze us into their busy day. As we shared the sigh of relief with Jane, she informed us that OMAFRA had contacted her and said that if we leave the premises with 700 then we will be charged with theft. According to OMAFRA, we had stolen the goat. That’s when things started coming together. That’s when the emotion truly hit.

We have an ailing, lethargic goat in our lap who we’ve just found hope for: hope revoked. You can imagine our frustration when we realize we may have just been set-up. That somebody was possibly watching us in this very moment. That they had slyly followed us to our vehicles and took a photo of our license plates. We can’t take 700 to the vet or else we will get charged. We couldn’t even try because they would stop us before we could even get him the help he needs.

OMAFRA had sent a vet the fairgrounds at the request of Jane. The investigator and vet were inside searching for us. We informed them of our location over the phone and I went to collect them from the front entrance of the auction. As I was walking them to the goat, they interrogated me as if I was the criminal in this situation: “You have violated a very serious law – this is a very serious offence.”

Tim Heights gave the goat to us. He literally handed 700 to us, commended us for our willingness to help, and found us a box. I told the investigator this and she informed me that what he did was illegal too – maybe he knew that, maybe he didn’t.

“Once the animal has been segregated, it is illegal to remove it from the premises,” the investigator said.

“Good thing we didn’t leave the premises then so, I don’t care,” I said. “Can we help this goat now please?”

Nicholas Wilvert, Co-founder of Ontario Captive Animal Watch holding 700 (under the blanket).

After a few questions from the vet regarding the goat’s condition, they took him from our arms and back into the building. According to them, it is up to the owner as to how the vet is to proceed with 700. They would either have him treated or euthanised. The owners were not allowed to sell him in the auction because he simply wasn’t transportable, they said.

We were sure that 700 was most likely going to be euthanised but, by a twist of fate, the goat was put on fluids instead as per the seller’s request. After receiving fluids, 700’s health began to stabilize. Though it was a relief to hear the news of the care he did end up receiving, we are still greatly uncertain of what 700’s fate will actually be. Perhaps he will be continue to be viewed as just another number but ideally, someone will take him home and he will receive love.

700 was not just a number; 700 will never be just a number.

 

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