National Aquarium Praised With Honorable Mention on Aquarium List

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CONTACT: Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., toni@idausa.org, (805) 836-0496

Baltimore, MD (July 20, 2016) – International animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals, today released its list of the Ten Worst Tanks for Dolphins and Whales in North America, praising the National Aquarium with an honorable mention for its seaside sanctuary plans. In Defense of Animals is urging SeaWorld to take note.

The Ten Worst Tanks list exposes and represents the misery and suffering of some of the oceans’ most intelligent and complex mammals in captivity. Whales and dolphins are subject to astonishing rates of premature death, captivity-related injuries, forced removal of babies from mothers, and solitary isolation. Many are confined to swimming endless circles in cramped tanks, deprived of healthy social groups, and forced to endure invasive reproduction techniques, polluted water, dangerous transport, and brutal exploitation of their sociable natures through “swim” and “petting” programs.

The list was selected from over 60 facilities from southern Canada to Mexico where almost 1,000 whales and dolphins are held captive for public display.

“We are cautiously optimistic that the National Aquarium will put its money where its mouth is and finally emancipate the dolphins under its care to a sanctuary worth celebrating,” said In Defense of Animals President, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “Even with the most modern technology, veterinary care, and infrastructure, cetaceans still suffer intensely in captivity and exhibit surprisingly high mortality rates. Please help protect dolphins and whales in the wild where they belong, by pledging to never visit facilities that imprison them.”

The National Aquarium’s Seaside Sanctuary Plans

On June 14, 2016, Baltimore’s National Aquarium announced plans to move eight bottlenose dolphins from an indoor amphitheater pool to what could be the nation’s first ocean-side dolphin sanctuary, by 2020. Building a suitable sanctuary for dolphins takes time, yet In Defense of Animals eagerly awaits the dolphins’ emancipation.

The National Aquarium has been publicly critiquing dolphin captivity for around five years. After the deaths of two calves in 2011 – one from pneumonia, the other from internal bleeding – CEO John Racanelli began to acknowledge the harm perpetuated by the aquarium industry. In 2014 he decided to end the Aquarium’s dolphin shows and enacted a breeding moratorium. Mr. Racanelli stated that “shows are antiquated,” and addressed the miseducation that takes place at captive facilities, noting that “when people see dolphins in this kind of sterile setting, the messages that they take away are not, in fact, the ones that we as conservationists want them to.” Racanelli further noted that replicating the world of marine mammals is nearly impossible, a reality that requires the industry to “look for alternatives” and cetacean retirement.

Currently, immediate retirement to a sanctuary is not an option for cetaceans, since no facilities of this nature currently exist. But Racanelli seems to believe it’s important, acknowledging that dolphins forced to perform or otherwise be on public display are in fact working, and objects to the cruelty inherent in forcing them to “work until the day they die.” “Although this decision is about a group of dolphins, it is every bit as much about our humanity; for the way a society treats the animals with whom it shares this planet speaks volumes about us,” he said in the June announcement.

10 WORST TANKS:

1. SeaWorld, San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; Orlando, Florida
2. Marineland, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
3. Puerto Aventuras Dolphin Discovery, Mayan Riviera, Quinta Roo, Mexico
4. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia
5. Miami Seaquarium, Miami, Florida
6. Six Flags Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
7. Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, Mississippi and Unnamed new facility planned by same owner also in Gulfport, Mississippi
8. Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
9. Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
10. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois

Dishonorable Mention:
Dophinaris, Scottsdale, Arizona

Honorable Mention:
National Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland

### NOTES ###

The Ten Worst Tanks list was produced over the past year by multiple cetacean experts and scientists to represent the myriad horrors faced by cetaceans in captivity. Facilities were examined and investigated in-person; through review of government records, veterinary records, and death reports; and via image and data documentation.

In Defense of Animals also produces the respected Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants List, now in its twelfth year: http://www.idausa.org/2015tenworstzoos

For more information please visit: www.idausa.org/10WorstTanks

### ENDS ###

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization located in San Rafael, Calif. dedicated to protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitats through education, outreach, and our hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048