Whale Sanctuary Project Closes in On Seaside Sanctuary Site

KANAB, Utah, Oct. 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Whale Sanctuary Project announced today they are narrowing their search for a site to create a model seaside sanctuary for orcas or belugas in North America.

The model sanctuary would offer a home for whales who have retired from entertainment venues, are in need of rehabilitation or require lifelong care. Sites in Washington State, British Columbia and Nova Scotia are all under consideration.

"The sanctuary will be an environment chosen to promote the health and well-being of the whales, offering them the opportunity to, finally, thrive in a natural setting," said Dr. Lori Marino, president and founder of the Whale Sanctuary Project.

The rural communities of Sherbrooke and Sheet Harbour both provide suitable locations in Nova Scotia while Deepwater Bay off Cypress Island in Washington is also a strong possibility. Mound Island in British Columbia rounds out the organization's current list of top contenders.

"Finding the perfect site for this sanctuary has been a labor of love for us for more than two years," said Charles Vinick, executive director for the Whale Sanctuary Project. "We've considered more than 130 sites and visited at least 30 of them. Our sanctuary will have a major impact on the surrounding community, so we've been holding town meetings, inviting community members to have an open dialogue with us about what we're attempting to do and what this means for their home. We want to find a community that will embrace the sanctuary and the whales that will live there."

The sanctuary space will offer a spacious environment that is as similar to the whales' natural habitat as possible and must meet several physical criteria, including space, depth, current flow and more.

While the site will provide a home for whales in need, the sanctuary — and its construction — will also provide a boost for the local economy, creating a number of new jobs.

"Once the sanctuary and surrounding infrastructure have been built, the whales living at the sanctuary will require a good deal of care," Marino said, "They will be coming from living in concrete tanks, unable to care for themselves. They don't even know how to catch their own food. The animal care team, including veterinarians and trainers, will be necessary to work with them on a daily basis, whether for feeding, administering medical care or working on rehabilitation with them."

The creation of the North American sanctuary is reliant upon donations and the organization's fundraising efforts. For more information or to donate, please visit https://whalesanctuary.org/.

About the Whale Sanctuary Project
The Whale Sanctuary Project is working to establish a model seaside sanctuary where orcas or belugas can live in an environment that maximizes well-being and autonomy and is as close as possible to their natural habitat. It is the first organization focused exclusively on creating seaside sanctuaries in North America for orcas and beluga whales who are being retired from entertainment facilities or have been rescued from the ocean and need rehabilitation or permanent care. For more information, visit https://whalesanctuary.org/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Orange Orchard
865-977-1973
[email protected]

SOURCE Whale Sanctuary Project

Related Links

https://whalesanctuaryproject.org