The Killer Whale Who Changed the World (David Suzuki Institute)

If a true story needs telling that is genuinely important, saturated with irony even God must find strong, and heartbreaking enough to make a statue sob, what you want for your storyteller is a committed environmentalist and successful author who used to earn a living as a standup comedian. Full disclosure: Mark Leiren-Young is currently adapting a novel of mine for film. But that has nothing to do with my buying six copies of this remarkable book as Christmas presents for various family members and friends, yesterday--I just did that because I like them. What Mark has created here is a remarkable science fiction novel of First Contact with another intelligent race, with a single tiny flaw: it is nonfiction. If you've ever wondered how the terrifying killer whale morphed into the lovable Orca, this will explain it in genuinely loving detail. As long as I live I will never forget Mark's image of a man spending hours playing his harmonica for a lonely, dying whale-child, at no benefit to himself.

This book tells you vividly how cruelly people saw these animals. You go on a journey with Moby Doll with this book. One of my favorite whale books and it should be the first one you read to know who really started it all and broke all the barriers. Great writer as well

This is one of the best and saddest books I've ever read, butvitally important to understand what we are doing to killer whales.They are evolving like us and have a language, a way of life andthey cry when their babies are stolen from them. Why would we dothis anymore? Mark Leiren's book is a necessary heart breaker. Weneed to wake up because he tells the story of how other orcas triedto save this baby, but it would always be too late.

Still working on it but if you love orcas this is a great book for you. It tells the reader all about the first live capture of a killer whale.

Good, fast ship

Wonderful history of why Orcas are in captivity and how much we've learned since.

Good book, hard to read (emotional), despite the fact I knew how the story would go.

Great Read. If you love Orcas as we do. This is a must read

Well worth a read. I felt it was not particularly devoted to either side of the orca in captivity argument, but presented the story so well. It is definitely important to understand how orca were viewed prior to Moby doll's capture, and how that changed the way orca today are perceived and fought for.

I've started reading it and I'm entreaged so far!! Well worth the money

Looks good

This is a great read. I didn't know what I would be getting into when I opened this book. But once I started reading it, I was absolutely intrigued. The main theme describes the attempt to kill a "killer whale" in 1964, in order to use it as a model for an aquarium sculpture. However, the whale was injured and thereafter begain the fascinating saga of how the whale was rescued, nourished, and protected in order to now present a captive living example of the whale named "Moby Doll".There was extraordinary cooperation with several government, private, volunteer, and conservation agencies. Quite unusual.The obsessive devotion of several scientistist including Murray Newman, Pat McGeer the medical neuroscientist, and others was exceptional.The process led to further capture of whales, who were later appreciated as orcas, not killers and then to the debate and evolution as to whether these intelligent mammalian creatures should actually be held in captivity.Moby Doll, the whale, and all the activities around it, did change how the western world approached and managed whales. The book clearly outlines why there was a change in public and scientific thought on the intelligence, behaviour, and human interactions with these beautiful mammalsI couldn't put the book down. It is a smooth read for the cottage, winter vacation, or just at the fireside. I enjoyed it..

The history of how one young whale, Moby Doll, affected those involved with its capture off Saturna Island in British Columbia in 1964 is a fascinating read. The way Orcas were perceived prior to this event is in marked contrast to today. I loved all the characters the author introduces us to in his tale of this time and the years that followed. Amazing the impact this mammal had on the course of history.