Arctic Encounters: an orcaholics expedition in Norway

Salana Ayuan Iasis. As a kid, those three words captivated me. Keiko – the orca who played Willy – breaching over Jessie's head on his way to freedom fascinated me even more. That Haida poem, recited by Randolph in Warner Brother's 1993 blockbuster Free Willy, often came to mind whenever I gazed out to sea. I'd always hope that by thinking it or whispering it aloud, an orca would leap out of the water on the horizon. A big dream for a kid digging a sandcastle on a beach in Essex.

Those three words, "Salana Ayun Iasis", are thought to have several meanings. From "Live long", "Be free" or "The sea is speaking". All of these relate quite nicely to the ocean's top predator, but for me, it is "Be free" that resonates the most. This sentiment feels especially poignant now, as another orca has recently died in captivity, and the fates of two others dominate headlines following France's recent ban on whale and dolphin shows. While this ban is undoubtedly a step forward, it raises a pressing question: where will these animals go now? Will they be sold for millions and sent to another dolphinarium to endure a life of performing for human amusement, or will they be relocated to an ocean sanctuary to retire, finally experiencing the ebb and flow of the tides in a natural setting? I can only hope for the latter.