The Vancouver Aquarium says it will end its captive whale and dolphins program. Photo courtesy CBC.
The captive whale and dolphins program at Vancouver Aquarium is coming to an end, as officials say strong debate of the issue is hurting their conservation efforts.
BREAKING: Vancouver Aquarium will no longer keep whales and dolphins in captivity https://t.co/Jv9JZveC0E pic.twitter.com/PjtNllt0Ls
— CBC British Columbia (@cbcnewsbc) January 18, 2018
CEO John Nightingale says heated arguments against the program involving lawyers and politicians have challenged their mission.
The facility is prevented from bringing in any new whales and dolphins after a spring vote by the Vancouver Park Board following ethics concerns about keeping animals in captivity.
A Pacific white-sided dolphin named Helen is the lone cetacean remaining at the aquarium and her future is not known.
Since the park board decision, two other cetaceans died, including Chester, a false killer whale found on Chesterman’s Beach near Tofino in July 2014.
Nightingale says the only options are to transport Helen to another facility or bring in a companion animal.
He added the first of those choices could pose a health risk and the other goes against the park board rule.
With files from CBC.
Andy Neal
