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A lifetime studying and advocating for cetaceans: Interview with Paul Spong

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Briefings

Paul Spong, a New Zealand-born researcher, moved to the U.S. in the 1960s to study physiological psychology before transitioning to cetacean research in 1967. He worked with a captured orca named Skana at the Vancouver Aquarium, observing her intelligence and advocating for her release, though the facility retained her until her death in 1980. Following this, Spong established a permanent research facility on Hanson Island, British Columbia, in 1970, which he co-directed with his wife Helena Symonds. The team adopted a hands-off approach, using only land-based hydrophones and cameras to observe Northern resident orcas without tracking them. This work was documented by Mongabay in 2026.

Key points

• Paul Spong moved to the U.S. in the 1960s to study physiological psychology before entering cetacean research in 1967.
• Spong and his wife Helena Symonds co-direct the OrcaLab on Hanson Island, British Columbia, since the late 1970s.

Context and limitations

Coverage is limited to the 1960s to 1980s for the Vancouver Aquarium Skana project and the 1970s to present for the Hanson Island OrcaLab research. Data on long-term outcomes of the hands-off approach or specific behavioral metrics beyond observation are not provided.

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