A sculptor hired to kill a killer whale for research purposes by the director of the Vancouver Aquarium botches the job after hitting a five-metre long male orca with a harpoon launched from Saturna Island.
After the whale refused to die, it was dragged to a makeshift pen at Burrard dry docks. Nicknamed Moby Doll by staff who mistook him for female, he was the first member of his species ever exhibited in captivity and became an instant international media sensation.
Moby Doll died 87 days later after developing a skin disease from the low salinity in the harbour water and a fungal disease of the lungs.
A moratorium on capturing orcas was implemented in 1976.
