freeOrca Is a team of individuals & groups who are combining their efforts to protect the freedom of Orcas.
	What is freeOrca ?

[Our aim of the organization] 1. To secure a place for exchanging information related to the capture of orcas for display in aquariums and also to lobby to free those orcas in captivity. 2. To make as many people aware as possible about life of orcas and the part they play their role in the ecology of the ocean. 3. To develop a systematic campaign against capturing orcas for display. 4. To demand the release of the captive orcas and returning them to the ocean hopefully their families. 　 [ Why freeOrca ? ] At present in Japan, the display of small‐sized whales, dolphins & orcas in aquariums is booming. From now on we predict that the number of orcas & dolphins captured for display is going to rapidly increase. In the autumn of 1996, a plan was discovered that a Japanese aquarium was to buy and import 9orcas from Russia. This encouraged people to set up freeOrca. Following this, in February 1997, 5 orcas were captured in Wakayama prefecture for aquariums. Finally, in March 1998, the Port of Nagoya Public aquarium announced the acquisition of 4 or 6 orcas for the opening of the new aquarium in 2001. These incidents accelerated the broader movement to protect the freedom of wild animals. This was the impetus for the establishment of freeOrca. 　 [Planned activities] 1. To hold regular meetings for collections and exchange of information about orcas in Japan and abroad. 2. To hold lectures, seminar, symposiums and to show movies to educate information about orcas through homepage and mailing list. 3. To spread information about orcas through homepage and mailing list. 4. To conduct signature campaigns to free orcas. 5. To exchange information with the Fisheries Agency and aquariums. Up to now, we have conducted 2 campaigns. One was to oppose the importation of Orcas from Russia for the sale to the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. Second was to free the 5 surviving orcas from the 10 originally captured in Taiji. 5 died soon after capture. Those 5 were sold to 3 separate Aquariums. Today only 2 remain. 　 [Future Actions] 1. To make and publish the database about orcas. 2. To work towards the realization of whereas orcas are brought into people life by virtual reality through the net. 　 [About Members & Operation of freeOrca] 1. Any individual or group can join freeOrcas, if you agree with our aims and activities. 2. No membership fees, freeOrca is run by contributions from individuals. 3. Members will registered on feeOrca homepage and be put our mailing‐list. 　 [freeOrca Organization] P.O. BOX 2015 Shinjuku-Kita Post Office 169-8799 JAPAN

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freeOrca Project
Copyright ? 1997-2007 freeOrca Project All Rights Reserved.
This page was translated by Midori and Ian Hosken.