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Dutch court battle over killer whale freedom Dutch judge rejects pleas for killer whale freedom
(about 2 hours later)
By Anna Holligan BBC News, The HagueBy Anna Holligan BBC News, The Hague
The fate of a killer whale rescued off the Dutch coast is now in the hands of a judge, in a case that has generated huge public concern in the Netherlands. A Dutch judge has ruled that a rescued killer whale can be sent to a Canary Islands amusement park, despite pleas to release the animal into the wild.
Should Morgan the orca whale be returned to the wild or sent to an amusement park in the Canary Islands? The case of Morgan the orca sharply divided opinion in the Netherlands.
The verdict is expected shortly. The orca was rescued by a dolphinarium in Harderwijk after being found exhausted and starving in shallow waters in the Waddenzee in June 2010.
The campaign website of the Free Morgan Foundation has been getting more than 50,000 hits a day. But the rescuers think Morgan's best chance of survival is to be kept in captivity. Conservationists are devastated by Monday's ruling, fearing the move to the Canaries will kill Morgan.
A captive orca is worth around $10m (£6.3m). The judge in Amsterdam decided however that the orca would have no reasonable chance of survival in the wild.
When Morgan was found in shallow waters in the Waddenzee in June 2010 she was exhausted, starving and struggling to breathe. The plan is to transfer Morgan within days to Loro Parque on Tenerife, where she will join five other orcas in a big tank, on show to the public.
A team from the dolphinarium in Harderwijk rescued the young orca and have been looking after her ever since. Ahead of the judge's ruling the campaign website of the Free Morgan Foundation had been getting more than 50,000 hits a day.
Tough decisionTough decision
Niels van Elk, a vet who has been working at the dolphinarium for 13 years, thinks Morgan would be better off in captivity than in the wild. Niels van Elk, a vet who has been working at the dolphinarium for 13 years, thinks Morgan will be better off in captivity than in the wild.
"The theme park is the best option for her because that is where she can live in a group and that is the best we can offer her," he says."The theme park is the best option for her because that is where she can live in a group and that is the best we can offer her," he says.
"We as humans should not pretend that we can replace the challenges and the satisfaction that a group of killer whales can give. It is an artificial environment, it's a different life but it's a good life all the same.""We as humans should not pretend that we can replace the challenges and the satisfaction that a group of killer whales can give. It is an artificial environment, it's a different life but it's a good life all the same."
But the Free Morgan campaigners disagree. Thousands, including Dutch supermodels and American philanthropists, signed up to support the campaigners who are battling to give Morgan back her freedom. But the Free Morgan campaigners disagree. Thousands, including Dutch supermodels and American philanthropists, signed up to support the campaigners battling to give Morgan back her freedom.
These scientists and orca experts filed a lawsuit blocking the dolphinarium's plan to send Morgan to the Canaries. These scientists and orca experts filed a lawsuit, hoping to block the dolphinarium's plan to send Morgan to the Canaries.
According to their research, freedom is the only real option.According to their research, freedom is the only real option.
Marine biologist Lara Pozzato says the tourist attraction "is an artificial environment, a small tank made of concrete.Marine biologist Lara Pozzato says the tourist attraction "is an artificial environment, a small tank made of concrete.
"Loro Parque is already overcrowded with four adult orcas plus a calf. They are forced to perform four times a day. These animals are used for profit - they are slaves for entertainment.""Loro Parque is already overcrowded with four adult orcas plus a calf. They are forced to perform four times a day. These animals are used for profit - they are slaves for entertainment."
Finding new friendsFinding new friends
According to the campaigners' statistics, a female orca can live up to 90 years. In captivity life expectancy for orcas is around 20 years.According to the campaigners' statistics, a female orca can live up to 90 years. In captivity life expectancy for orcas is around 20 years.
Sending an orca out on her own is not a simple solution. The popular 1993 movie Free Willy told the tale of a captive orca whale that once released into the ocean was unable to survive.Sending an orca out on her own is not a simple solution. The popular 1993 movie Free Willy told the tale of a captive orca whale that once released into the ocean was unable to survive.
Orcas are sociable creatures that travel with their pods for life.Orcas are sociable creatures that travel with their pods for life.
For Morgan to be accepted into a group of orcas they have to be able to communicate and although the scientists have found possible matches for Morgan just off the coast of Norway there is no guarantee they would welcome her into the group. For Morgan to be accepted into a group of orcas they have to be able to communicate. Although the scientists found possible matches for Morgan just off the coast of Norway they do not know if she would be welcome in the group.
The campaigners though have come up with a plan which involves teaching Morgan how to adjust to freedom and help her find new friends. The campaigners proposed teaching Morgan how to adjust to freedom and planned to help her find new friends, by taking her on "sea walks" to meet other orcas. She would live in a sea pen during the transition to a wild state.
"Morgan would be shipped to Norway, which is the area she originally comes from. There is a sea pen - a bit like a fish farm - so it's outside, in a natural environment. When she's ready we'll start taking her on 'sea walks' to meet other orcas. You can't say that she cannot be released if you don't even try," says Ms Pozzato.