Fwd: Ridiculous/Wierd

[Guest guest]

Of course, they don't go after the trawlers who kill hundreds of dolphins

and whales, do they.

 

Danielle

 

 

 

" You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake " --Jeanette Rankin

 

 

 

 

 

----Original Message Follows----

" Joy Levy " <iamjoy

" Dad Kichler " <howard6074, " Mom and Bob "

<bobdottyoc, " Danielle Kichler " <veggietart

Ridiculous/Wierd

Sat, 19 Apr 2003 10:07:10 -0400

 

WOMAN FACES $100,000 FINE FOR PATTING WHALE

Last Updated Wed Feb 12 23:40:26 2003

GOLD RIVER, B.C.-- A British Columbia woman could face a huge fine for

playing with a killer whale.

 

After concerns were raised that an orca hanging around the Nootka Sound was

becoming too socialized to humans, police in Gold River, B.C., charged the

woman with disturbing a marine animal.

 

Residents of the small community on the west coast of Vancouver Island have

been getting friendly with the orca, known locally as Luna, for the past two

years.

 

The whale became separated from his pod and has gradually become more

accustomed to people, now spending much of his time near the local

government dock.

 

RELATED

 

. Coverage from CBC British Columbia

 

 

 

John Ford, a marine mammal scientist with the federal Fisheries and Oceans

Department, has been watching the whale.

 

" He's catching salmon and sardines and other things, so he's making a living

there, " said Ford. " His main problem right now really is people. "

 

The patting and playing is concern enough, but some say the socializing with

Luna has gone too far.

 

" There are actually people going out in the dead of night and pouring beer

down its throat, " said Michael Harris of the Orca Conservancy in Seattle.

" That's not loving a whale, that's exploiting a wild animal. "

 

In an effort to make a stand, police arrested a woman caught patting the

whale and charged her for the whale's protection. The woman could be fined

as much as $100,000.

 

" The behaviour of humans is getting dangerous for the whale, " said RCMP Cpl.

Jackie Olsen.

 

The woman will appear in court in May and could face a fine of up to

$100,000 if convicted of disturbing the whale.

 

The experts hope people will leave the orca alone, and hope he will return

to his pod.

 

 

 

Written by CBC News Online staff

 

 

Copyright 2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation -

 

 

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