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Vancouver Aquarium Shamed as Second Worst Aquarium in Canada

Vancouver Aquarium Shamed as Second Worst Aquarium in Canada

Vancouver Aquarium Shamed as Second Worst Aquarium in Canada

10 Worst Tanks List for Dolphins and Whales Announced

IMAGES: http://bit.ly/2aa3Bak
CONTACT: Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., toni@idausa.org, (805) 836-0496

Vancouver, Canada (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, with Vancouver Aquarium shamed as the second worst in Canada. The facility is listed as a ‘beluga breeding mill’ and appears ninth on the list, with Marineland in Ontario shamed in second place.

The Ten Worst Tanks list exposes and represents the misery and suffering 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.

“Vancouver Aquarium is a beluga breeding mill that plumbs the depths in its exploitation of intelligent and sensitive animals,” 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.”

Vancouver Aquarium’s Shame

On the surface, the Vancouver Aquarium appears to be a straightforward nonprofit organization. But it actually operates under a number of different identities and is responsible for some of the most objectionable treatment of beluga whales in North America. The nonprofit aquarium is a prominent beluga-breeding partner with for-profit commercial theme parks. Of Vancouver Aquarium’s seven beluga whales, two are currently held at Georgia Aquarium and four are at various SeaWorld locations. Vancouver Aquarium beluga Nanuq was at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida, when he fractured his jaw while “interacting” with others and died from the resulting infection, re-igniting opposition to captive cetacean breeding.

Vancouver Aquarium belugas “on loan” to SeaWorld produced nine baby belugas between 2006 and 2015. Tragically, in those nine years, reportedly only two baby belugas survived.

Vancouver Aquarium belugas “on loan” to SeaWorld can be subjected to artificial insemination, which typically occurs with workers manually collecting semen from males and artificially inducing ovulation in females with drugs. The females are eventually sedated, removed from the water and, while rendered helpless, are invasively impregnated via deep, intra-uterine artificial insemination. This industrialized breeding occurs with puppy-mill regularity, sometimes less than a year after giving birth. This highly invasive process can be especially hard on the females. Two beluga mothers, Whisper and Ruby, were reportedly forced to bear the physical and emotional impact of five infant deaths, some stillborn, within four years, one after another.

Vancouver Aquarium is scheduled to complete a $100 million expansion by 2017 with a capacity to hold eight belugas. Dr. Jane Goodall has singled out Vancouver Aquarium’s breeding program as “no longer defensible by science. This is demonstrated by the high mortality rates evident in these breeding programs and by the ongoing use of these animals in interactive shows as entertainment.”

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

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