Sunday, Aug. 8, marks the 34th anniversary of the Penn Cove orca capture in which “Lolita,” an L pod orca whale, was taken from her family and transported to the Miami Seaquarium, where she has been performing daily in a small tank ever since. Lolita is the only survivor of all the Southern Resident orcas captured during the 1960’s and 70’s. In all, 45 whales were captured and shipped to marine parks around the world. An additional 13 orcas were killed during capture operations, four or five whales died in Penn Cove during the capture in which Lolita was taken.
Capt. John Colby Stone, proprietor and innkeeper of Captain Whidbey Inn, remembers the capture well. All three pods of Southern Resident whales were herded into Penn Cove and penned in near the Captain Whidbey Inn that week in August, 1970. At that time, Capt. Stone’s parents owned and ran the Inn.
Concerned about the activity of the whalers, Capt. Stone (a college student at the time) took Wally Funk editor/publisher of the Whidbey News-Times out to the scene of the capture. Funk’s photos of the capture have become classics, and helped galvanize public opinion against the capture of orcas in the state of Washington.
Stone has been a longtime supporter of the Free Lolita campaign, helping with efforts to get Lolita out of the Seaquarium and back home to her pod in Washington for years. He is offering the use of Captain Whidbey Inn for Orca Network’s annual Lolita/Capture Anniversary event, and donating sails aboard S/V Cutty Sark, his 52′-foot ketch to help raise funds for the cause. “The capture and incarceration of a sentient creature for the mere pleasure of humans is an anathema to my idea of what it is to be human,” Stone said.
This year, Stone, in addition to the cruise, is donating a beautiful Wyland humpback whale signed and numbered limited edition print for the Lolita auction. Wyland’s limited editions have been enthusiastically collected throughout the United States and 40 countries around the world. Today Wyland is recognized as one of the most popular and collected artists of our time. This print, titled “Genesis,” was purchased in 1999. Its value has increased every year. The current value is $2,245. Bidding will begin at $1,500, and bids will be accepted via e-mail until 9 a.m. Aug. 8 from those unable to attend the event and auction. The print is in mint condition. Thanks to a donation from the Windjammer Gallery in Coupeville, the print is mounted and shrink-wrapped along with the certificate of authenticity and artist information. To view a photo of the print, go to: www.orcanetwork.org/news/events.html.
Orca Network invites you to join us in this event to remember and honor the whales that died during the captures and in captivity, and to come learn more about Lolita and the Southern Resident orcas. This year’s event features presentations, displays, silent auction, waterside ceremony, gourmet food a cash bar. A sail on Penn Cove aboard Captain John Colby Stone’s ketch, Cutty Sark begins at 1:30 p.m., with other activities held from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Stone Gallery and gazebo area of Captain Whidbey Inn, 2072 W. Capt. Whidbey Inn Road, off Madrona Way. Admission is $15, the Cutty Sark sail is a $20 donation. For reservations or more information, or to bid on the Wyland print, call Orca Network at 678-3451 or e-mail info@
orcanetwork.org.
