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Victory in California for Orcas!

Victory in California for Orcas!

 

Tuesday was a historic day for orcas in the wild and captivity: Governor Jerry Brown has signed the California Orca Protection Act, an act designed to see the eventual phase-out of orca captivity in California. The bill, originally introduced by Assemblymember Richard Bloom in 2014 and reintroduced last spring after undergoing several changes, represents the sea-change in recent years of public attitudes towards orca captivity.

The act bans orca shows, and captivity in general, for entertainment purposes. It also outlaws orca breeding, making it illegal to export, collect or import reproductive materials, such as semen or embryos, for the purposes of artificial insemination. It further stipulates that it is illegal to export or sell orcas to other states or countries, something that aligns with arguments that they be considered nonhuman persons rather than property that can be purchased and sold – despite their continued consideration as such under US law.

Certain transfers to other facilities within North America will permitted as long as they have been federally authorized or if the transfer “is to another facility within North America that meets standards comparable to those provided under the Animal Welfare Act”. While this could prove to be a weakness within the law, it also provides an important avenue for orcas to be transferred to seaside sanctuaries, as scientists and organizations, including In Defense of Animals, are advocating for.

Ultimately, the new law is an important step in the right direction, and it is hoped that its passing will encourage the proliferation of other state and federal legislation. While there remains many years of orca display left in California, this act hopefully represents a light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

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