True Shamu

When Corky was very young, just 4 or 5 years old, she was swimming with her family near Vancouver Island, Canada. Corky and her mother were both captured (along with other members of the "A5 Pod" family). Her mother managed to escape. Corky was trapped.

Of the 13 members of the A5 orca family that were captured in 1968 and 1969 -- only two are alive today -- and Corky is one of them!

Orcas in the wild can live to be 70 years (like humans). At 30, Corky is still a relatively young adult -- Corky has been pregnant 7 times for a total of 10 years -- none of her offspring has survived! Corky isn't getting pregnant anymore -- she is no longer useful for Sea World's breeding program.

The other 5 whales she lives with are: Ulysses, male, captured 1980; Kasatka, female, captured 1978. Ulysses and Kasatka are from Iceland. Kasatka's daughter, Takara, born July 9, 1991, at Sea World San Diego; Splash, male, born captive in Canada, August 15, 1989 (acquired by Sea World, April, 1992), and Orkid, female, born September 23, 1988 at Sea World. Orkid is the orphan daughter of Kandu and Orky.

The point is to return Corky to Canada, NOW!

Corky (A16) still has a family. Her mother, Stripe (A23) is 47 years old, and is seen frequently in the waters of northern Vancouver Island. Corky's mom had a baby, Fife (A60), in 1992. Corky's sister, Ripple (A43) born 1981 and brother, Okisollo (A27) born 1972 still swim together. The family is commonly seen swimming with many other orca families that come to the area each year.

Corky still talks her family's special language! So she'd be able to communicate with them -- that's important so they can recognize her and accept her back.

The Corky Plan is to go slowly.... A new "halfway" home will be set up for Corky -- A netted-off bay on a small island near Johnstone Strait that will serve as a Rehabilitation Center. She will be taught to catch live fish (a natural instinct) and swim to scientists and animal doctors for medical check-ups to make sure she's healthy and other possibilities....

If the plan works, she will be able to swim free with her family (A5 pod) and many other orca families who enjoy each other's company along the Pacific Coast between Alaska and Vancouver Island.

Can you imagine how much money Corky has make for Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Budweiser Beer, Eagle Snacks, etc., by performing daily at Sea World?

Captive orcas average live at Sea World is just 10 years (in the ocean they can live to be 70 years). The fact is that at 30 Corky is the oldest captive orca in the world. And for 25 years she has been performing tricks!

The TRUTH is -- Dolphins and Whales do not normally do "tricks" -- their behavior is part of their communication and expression! In the wild, orcas breech! But not at the sound of a whistle.

Orca whales are the largest members of the dolphin family. Captive dolphins have been successfully returned into the ocean -- even after 25 years of captivity.

Orca have very large brains and have lived on this planet/ocean 20 million years; humans about 50 thousand years.

We learn so much from these animals! In 25 years, haven't we learned a lot about orca and the whole eco-system?

Let's help this family get reunited in B.C. this year, 1996! Corky still has a family to go to. She's like a soldier being caught in 1969 -- and returning home years later.

Free Corky Project -- needs your help and people to support Corky's reunion in 1996! Wouldn't it be great seeing Corky in her original home....the ocean!

MULTI-MEDIA Technology can enable us all to be a part of this scientific experiment created by Dr. Paul Spong -- president of the ORCALAB that monitors all orcas traveling along the East Coast of Vancouver Island. Dr. Spong is also a great help to researchers/film-makers and to the many people that come to see and study orcas in the wild.

Dr. Spong, the ORCALAB and many dedicated people that study orca pods in the wild have contributed information, pictures, video footage, and audio tapes. Millions of us have seen, heard, and learned from them.

Let's show the world (and Nature) we are ready to change and make the world and the Ocean a better place. Let's send messages to Sea World's owner Anheuser-Busch, to Congress, and The Corky Project. Anheuser-Busch sponsored the Rolling Stones Tour and Super Bowl XXX. So how about the Free Corky Project!?!?

Orca are much larger than human beings. But human beings will decide their fate. Let's work together as well as orcas do, to make sure True Stories like Corky's have a happy ending.

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