38 



them is like allowing someone to try to fill a bucket that obviously 

 has a hole. 



For example, the four smallest whale species currently held in 

 captivity include the killer whale, the false killer whale, the beluga, 

 and the pilot whale. These species suffer apparently high mortality 

 rates, reduced lifespans, and low birth weights in captivity com- 

 pared to populations observed in the wild. Mortality rates in cap- 

 tivity range from 42 percent for belugas to 92 percent for pilot 

 whales. Captive killer whales experience a mortality rate more 

 than two and one-half times as high as that observed in a well doc- 

 umented wild population. 



The average lifespan in captivity for all four species combined is 

 8 years, assuming a capture age of 3 years, which is typical for 

 these species. In the wild, the average lifespan of all four species 

 combined is 25 to 35 years. In 30 years of holding these 4 species 

 in captivity in the United States only 10 calves have survived past 

 the first few months and were still alive as of February 1993. 



Wild caught individuals clearly suffer enough to affect longevity 

 and mortality rates, and possibly as a result of this suffering cap- 

 tive breeding for these species has been unsuccessful. It is clear 

 that individuals of these species cannot handle the transition from 

 wild to captivity. 



We now have, Mr. Chairman, a high level of understanding of 

 the social structures and behaviors of marine mammal species in 

 the wild. We know that most exhibit long-term familial bonds and 

 in general are socially complex, long lived, mentally sophisticated 

 creatures. Cetacean species may travel up to 50 to 100 miles a day, 

 dive several hundred feet, and spend only 20 percent of their time 

 at the surface. 



The transition from their natural environment to captivity in a 

 small concrete tank can only be unimaginably traumatic. A symbol 

 of all that is wrong with removing these animals from their natural 

 environment is the collapsed dorsal fins seen in many captive killer 

 whales, probably a result of spending more than one-half of their 

 time on the surface of their tanks. 



You remember that was a feature of Willy in the movie, "Free 

 Willy." This phenomena is observed in less than 1 percent of wild 

 killer whales. The capture process itself, where animals are round- 

 ed up, netted or lassoed, or driven into shallow water, and taken 

 from family and removed from the water is incredibly cruel and 

 stressful. 



The public has received the message of conservation and habitat 

 protection. The message can be reinforced through various media 

 such as wildlife videos and interactive displays. The public has re- 

 alized that taking these magnificent creatures from their natural 

 home to exist in sterile confinement, in circumstances wholly alien 

 to their existence is not education, is not justifiable for entertain- 

 ment, and in itself does not support conservation. 



Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the opportunity to present our 

 views, and I look forward to responding to questions. 



[The prepared statement of Dr. Grandy follows:] 



