Within just weeks of each other, the Vancouver Aquarium has lost two beluga whales, a mother and her child, to uncertain causes. The mother beluga, named Aurora, died on November 25. She began showing symptoms of distress, particularly stomach distress, immediately after her calf, Quila, died two weeks prior.
According to sources, at least 9 orcas, 7 narwhals, 20 belugas, 1 harbor porpoise, and 14 Pacific white-sided dolphins have died at the Aquarium over the past half-century. Six captive beluga whales have died there over the past 2 years.
The Aquarium claims the cause of death is unknown for both Quila and Aurora, with tests ongoing. The Aquarium President Dr. John Nightingale even hinted that the belugas might have been poisoned, a direct threat to activists who oppose keeping the belugas in captivity. Nightingale also said that police had been contacted. Yet, there is no evidence of such acts at all.
But the Aquarium has a dismal record of keeping captive cetaceans alive. Captivity has many known adverse impacts, which for belugas are very similar to the impacts on orcas and other dolphins revealed by the documentaries “Fall From Freedom” and “Blackfish”.
Aurora was believed to be about 30 years old and was captured in the wild; Quila was only 21 and was the first beluga born in captivity in Vancouver Aquarium. Beluga whales in the wild can live twice as long.
A Vancouver Sun story in July noted that Vancouver Aquarium belugas, according to experts, were showing signs of stereotypical swimming, repeatedly swimming around the tank in the same manner hour after hour. Beluga whales are extremely intelligent and suffer from stress, boredom, and other problems in captivity that reduce their immune system. A viral disease is a possible cause for the demise of both belugas, again likely enhanced by the stress of captivity.
The Parks Board is proposing a possible plebiscite on the matter, but not until 2018! Many activists feel this is an attempt to give the Vancouver Aquarium time to arrange for bringing in new beluga whales before a vote of the public can be taken. Vancouver reportedly “owns” several beluga whales currently on loan to SeaWorld and other aquariums.
Please sign the petition to stop the Vancouver Aquarium from bringing in any more beluga whales, either from other aquariums or from the wild.
Email the Vancouver Park Board and the Vancouver Aquarium and tell them that Vancouver needs to get out of the cetacean captivity business:
-Vancouver Park Board Chairwoman, Sarah Kirby-Yung: sarah.kirby-yung@vancouver.ca
-All Vancouver Park Board Commissioners: PBcommissioners@vancouver.ca
-Vancouver Aquarium CEO John Nightengale: reception@vanaqua.org
Watch and Share: An activist’s documentary has been posted online about the Aquarium’s problems. Watch the whole thing here:
Photo Credits: Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press
