Whalefest goes swimmingly in campaign to release mammals from captivity

Often confined to viewing tanks for the public, they are trained to perform for the masses with no concept of the outside world.

These mammals of the sea, once free to roam oceans, are instead made to leap and dive for an audience.

The situation angers campaigners who have been counting the deaths of these animals while in captivity the world over.

Meanwhile, it would seem Brighton has played a more important role than most UK cities in saving whales and dolphins.

As far back as 1982, in the wake of a worldwide backlash against whale hunting, a whaling moratorium banning the act was agreed at the Hilton Metropole Hotel.

The early eighties saw a sea change in attitudes towards animal welfare and, two years later, Will Travers made a decision to play his part.

The son of Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, who co-starred in the 1966 film Born Free, he heard of the death of an elephant at London Zoo and decided to act. “It was like, ‘What’s going on with animals in zoos?’ That was the catalyst for me,” he remembered, recalling the moment he set up the campaign group Zoo Check in 1984.

Standing on Brighton beach on Saturday, the now-president of the Born Free Foundation (Zoo Check’s follow-on) surveys a graveyard of wooden crosses set into the pebbles.

Called Whalegraveyard – Set Captive Spirits Free, the art installation is designed to mark today’s plight of the killer whale.

He told The Argus: “We have projects all over the world,” referring to Born Free’s work to keep animals in the wild, “We are fighting the good fight on every front.”

“I’m immensely grateful for this,” he said, looking at the whale graveyard, “I think it’s really important.”

The hundreds of black and white crosses erected a week ago on the beach represent orca tails with one for each whale or dolphin that has died in captivity or is still held in captivity today.

The scene is part of Whalefest – the world’s largest Whale and Dolphin festival – which came to the Brighton Centre over the weekend.

Mr Travers said: “I know there was a decision over whether WhaleFest should choose a new place every year and I argued strongly to keep it here.

“There’s a strong environmental, green – and I mean that with a small G, not in a political way – movement here.”

Brighton has added poignancy for Mr Travers: he was one of those who helped rescue two dolphins residing in Brighton Aquarium in 1991.

He was contacted by someone who was in the throes of turning the attraction into the SeaLife centre.

Mr Travers said: “He said it was not their policy to keep dolphins so we got them out.”

The team hired a 707 jet to take the dolphins to the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean, “It’s an amazing location for them,” he added.

“A guy there had a conch farm and he had a big lagoon. It was the perfect place to prepare the dolphins for the wildlife proper.”

The dolphins were returned to the wild a year later.

By the end of the following year there were no more captive dolphins in the UK.

“People want to see dolphins, don’t get me wrong, but they want to see them in the wild.”

While Mr Travers is keen to avoid politics, Green MP Caroline Lucas, who represents Brighton Pavilion, is keen to bring the issue to the table.

Shortly after adding her signature to a board of supporters on the seafront, she told The Argus: “We can certainly put pressure on our own government to take action.

“We want our own government to play a stronger role to bring about change. WhaleFest is a good way to send out a strong message on that.”

Looking at the beach graveyard, she said: To see the crosses in place is a wonderful way to think about our planet. I just think it’s so inspirational to see so many people who know so much about our sea life and are willing to take action to protect it.

“This is the biggest [event] of its kind [and it’s here] because Brighton is where the first convention was signed.”

Another high-profile advocate of WhaleFest is this year’s guest director: natural history TV presenter, adventurer and author Steve Backshall.

He told The Argus: “Brighton has this image where people are open to new ideas, ideas with good heart and soul to them.

“I think it’s very evident in the way WhaleFest is supported here.”

Mr Backshall holds humpback whales close to his heart and said the humpback is his favourite whale.

He said: “They are the most vocal of all whales and the most social. They have this tremendous power.

“I have sat on a dock listening to the whale song in Alaska and it hits you right there,” he exclaims, patting his chest.

“I have seen them at their very best.”

On dolphins, he added: “The bottlenose dolphin has a bigger brain than we do. They are very intelligent.

“They have complex social interactions and mourn their dead.”

One company to have come under the microscope is SeaWorld in Orlando, US.

Its harbouring of orcas led to a documentary film called Blackfish, which led to SeaWorld shares tumbling by 33%.

Mr Backshall added: “There has already been a lot of pressure on the US. The corporations that keep animals in captivity are starting to feel the pressure.

“It says something very bleak if we can’t save animals that are so exciting and important.

“I don’t want to just go on about conservation messages.

“I want to get people excited about whales and dolphins and love them.

“We need to tell everyone how wonderful they can be.”

Mermaids at Whalefest

Thousands take part

THOUSANDS of avid whale lovers turned out over the weekend to take in WhaleFest at the Brighton Centre.

Held in partnership with the Born Free Foundation and the World Cetacean Alliance, it hosted a range of exhibitions, seminars, activities and whale models with plenty for children and adults.

Visitors were also met with a life-size inflatable killer whale.

Celebrity presenters Michaela Strachan and Steve Backshall were among the guest speakers at the two-day event and dozens of marine experts shared their knowledge.

In its fourth year, director Ian Rowlands anticipated 20,000 people through the door – double last year’s effort.

The ticket money helps raise funds for environmental charity Wild and Free to campaign for marine conservation.

Mr Rowlands told The Argus: “It’s a powerful opportunity because Brighton is the best place in the world to do it.

“We are on the sea and well connected to the globe.

“I think the British are really passionate about dolphins.

“My passion started as a kid when I was six. Whale Fest wants to create that. We need to inspire the next generation.”

Investigative journalist and broadcaster Donal MacIntyre was also among the supporters.

He backs the work of Born Free and subscribes to the idea that human interference should be minimised.

He said: “The way we view animals has changed over the years and I think the best place for them is in the wild.

“To have documentaries and newspaper reports can make a difference but it’s only one part of the pie.

“In a world where some young people don’t believe in anything except the next level on their computer game, it’s a privilege to see them getting engaged in this.”

Woman led away after heated debate

ONE woman was led away when a debate on whales in captivity became heated.

John Hargrove, pictured, former orca trainer and contributor to the film Blackfish, came under fire from one audience member over his work at SeaWorld in Orlando, US.

The noon discussion on Saturday turned into a high tempo questioning of Mr Hargrove, who had taken to the stage to explain his standpoint on whales in captivity.

He explained how he left the US attraction, which makes money from killer whales on show in tanks, when he disagreed with management over a pod family being separated.

The talk became heated among the audience when a woman stood up and challenged him about why he did not leave sooner.

He told the crowd that the whales were the most important thing to him and that to leave sooner could have meant him being replaced by someone who cared less than he did.

But the woman continued, asking him why he waited until he had other commercial opportunities lined up before his departure.

Mr Hargrove said he wanted to spread the word about whales in captivity.

A WhaleFest spokeswoman said the exchange, in which the questioner was eventually led away, was one of the most heated he had been involved in publicly.

Mr Hargrove gave a concluding statement: “We are the ones who have the power. They [the whales] don’t have the power.”

He closed by saying he would continue to speak out.

The film Blackfish concentrated on an orca at SeaWorld which was involved in the deaths of three people.

The film looked at the controversy surrounding killer whales held in captivity.

Former SeaWorld trainers, including Hargrove, were interviewed for the making of the film.

The documentary was produced following the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, who died after being attacked.

The whale was also thought to have been involved in the death of a female trainer in Canada in 1991.

Other orcas were also said to have attacked trainers at SeaWorld parks in 2006 and 2004.

Critics praised the film but SeaWorld Entertainment refused to take part in its production, later claiming it was inaccurate, misleading and exploited tragedy.

Even the family of Ms Brancheau distanced themselves from the film, saying: “Dawn would not have remained a trainer at SeaWorld for 15 years if she felt that the whales were not well cared for.”