B.C. man leading charge to have Shamu released from SeaWorld

CTV Vancouver: Calls for SeaWorld to return orca Shamu, originally named Corky, was captured near Pender Island in 1969.

A B.C. man is urging SeaWorld to release a local resident from its concrete tanks.

Corky, who performs under the stage name Shamu, was captured off the province’s coast in 1969 and is the longest surviving orca in captivity.

Paul Spong, who lives on Hanson Island on B.C.’s north coast, hopes the success of the documentary Blackfish helps raise awareness about Corky’s plight.

“I think SeaWorld absolutely owes her, they have profited from her immensely,” said Spong.

The orca was captured neared Pender Island after being separated from her pod and has been performing at the park since 1987.

Spong witnessed her capture and it still jars in his memory.

“It was obviously something that was wrong,” he said of the orca being separated from her mother.

Spong runs the OrcaLab on Hanson Island where researchers film wild orcas and record their songs.

For years, Spong and his partner Helena have led the charge to have Corky released from captivity. He’s taken out full page ads and petitioned SeaWorld’s management to release the orca. Every time, he’s been rejected.

When Spong’s activity first reached SeaWorld officials in 1995, an official told local TV that they wouldn’t give in to Spong’s “pipe dream.”

But with the recent success of Blackfish, Spong is hoping their stance changes.

Since the release of the documentary, attendance has dropped and California lawmakers have even proposed a bill banning the use of whales as performers.

Preliminary data released by SeaWorld shows attendance has dropped to 3.05 million visitors so far this year, down about 500,000 from the same period in 2013.

“People are finally getting it that these whales are far too complex to hold in captivity,” said Helena.

At 48, Corky might be too old to re-introduce in to the wild but Spong says there’s another solution.

He proposes she be held in a netted cove where her needs can be overseen by SeaWorld staff.

With a report from CTV Vancouver's Brent Gilbert