No more cetaceans in captivity at Vancouver Aquarium after Park Board vote

Aurora the beluga whale died last year, along with her calf Qila (Vancouver Aquarium) 87597f5b8e86c1f11ef6c2f3ab7c0b2b?s=96&d=mm&r=gJenni SheppardJan 23, 2017 1:55 pm560

The days of seeing live whale and dolphin displays at the Vancouver Aquarium look to be numbered.

At a meeting on Thursday night, park commissioners voted to ask staff to amend the parks bylaw and report back by May 15. The amendment would effectively end cetacean shows at the aquarium.

#VanParkBoard votes to direct staff to bring forward bylaw change by May 2017 prohibiting display of cetaceans at Vancouver Aquarium. pic.twitter.com/Tk1MiI0ZKo

— Vancouver Park Board (@ParkBoard) March 10, 2017

The Aquarium currently has no whales in captivity, since the death of its two beluga whales, Aurora and Qila in November last year. However, it has five other beluga whales on loan to other aquariums and marine science centres in North America as well as dolphins and a porpoise at its Stanley Park facility.

Last month, the Aquarium proposed to phase out its beluga program by 2029 following a 12-year conservation project. Its belugas currently at other facilities would be brought back to the Aquarium in 2019 after a major expansion of the beluga habitat.

More to come…

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