The female orca "Coo" held in captivity in the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium died at 7:55AM(JST), September 19th.

News story (Japanese)
asahi.com http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0919/NGY200809190009.html
mainichi.jp http://mainichi.jp/select/wadai/news/20080919k0000e040078000c.html
Chunichi http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2008092090104356.html

The death of "Coo" is announced also posted on the official site of the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.
http://www.nagoyaaqua.jp/aqua/topi/20080919/index.html


This orca was the last survivor of the five orcas captured for "Academic Purposes " 12 years ago. We have been raising our voices against this historical capture on SHA-CHI.JP.


How big is the loss? The media and the aquarium may not talk about the significant implication of this event, but as previously stated on SHACHI.JP, and as you can see in the footage below, the death of "Coo" ultimately lead to an extinction of a pod of rare wild orcas.



Take: February, 1997 / Edit: February, 2007
Related movie with YouTube
- Here for the reference when you set the link

The capture 12 years ago took the core of the matrilineal pod: a nursing mother which was very possibly pregnant. Soon after the capture she died along with the nursing baby. In 2004, a juvenile male from the pod died in captivity. On September 19th 2007, a female from the pod died in captivity. And on the same day on September 2008, the last hope for the pod vanished forever

*ref: "Orca capture in Taiji - Overview"

The aquarium commented that it was regretful that it couldn't help Coo to her recovery and that despite what happened it was able to advance research on their reproduction in areas such as ovulation. Is this progress? Can they succeed in artificial insemination and reproduction when they are not even able to keep an animal alive? We are very doubtful.

It is necessary to ask again, how much was gained for "Academic Purposes" as it seems like the annihilation of a pod is a big sacrifice to pay.

*ref: "Is the academic research really for the orcas?"

We would like to ask the opinion of the Fishery Agency that permits capture for "Academic Purposes."

*ref: "What is Capture for Academic Purposes?"

Moreover, do not let the economic benefits of a related organization, i.e., the aquarium, get priority, and do not let further captures be done.

"Coo" should be the last one.


Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
http://www.nagoyaaqua.jp (Japanese)
Minatomachi1-3, Minato-ku Nagoya 455-0033
Phone:(052)654-7080 FAX F(052)654-7001
http://www.nagoyaaqua.jp/aqua/othe/engl/index.html

Taiji Town Office
Oaza Taiji 3767-1
Taiji-cho Higashimurogun,
Wakayama 649-5171
Phone :0735-59-2335 Fax :0735-59-2801
http://www.town.taiji.wakayama.jp/index.html (Japanese)

Wakayama Prefectural Government Office
1-1 Komatsubaradori Wakayama City,
Wakayama 640-8585 Japan
tel:+81-73-432-4111
http://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/english/top.html
mailto:webmaster@pref.wakayama.lg.jp


Nagoya City Hall
1-1, Sannomaru 3-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya, 460-8508
Tel: 052-961-1111 (front desk)
http://city.nagoya.jp/global/en/
mailto:shimin-no-koe@shiminkeizai.city.nagoya.lg.jp

Aichi Prefectural Government Office
1-2-3 San-no-maru, Naka-ku, Nagoya City 460-8501
Phone: 052-961-2111 (Front desk)
http://www.pref.aichi.jp/global/en/index.html

(Translated by google)
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pref.aichi.jp%2Fkoho%2Fteigen%2Fteigen_bako%2Fform%2Findex.html&hl=ja&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
1-2-1,Kasumigaseki,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 1008950,Japan.
http://www.maff.go.jp/e/index.html

Opinion Form:
https://www.voice.maff.go.jp/maff-interactive/people/ShowWebFormAction.do?FORM_NO=5

Information on Whaling Issues:
http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/whale/index.htm