Protesters demanding Vancouver Aquarium “Empty The Tank”
Posted May 24, 2014 8:22 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – One of the largest demonstrations against whales and dolphins in captivity is being held today in Stanley Park.
Jeff Matthews with the Vancouver Animal Defense League says he was heartened by the mayor and Park Board asking for a review into cetacean captivity at the Vancouver Aquarium.
“I think it’s great that the mayor and a couple of the Park Board members have come out. We’ve heard this before, not from a mayor, but we’ve heard a lot of talk about changes before. Now it’s just a waiting game to see what they come up with in terms of the review they have planned,” he says.
He explains they want to see whales and dolphins moved to sea pens to get them back to a more natural environment, and stop bringing cetacean’s into captivity. “No more breeding happening. They’ve had four of their five belugas that they’ve bred die before the age of three. It’s not a particularly successful program that they’ve got.”
Matthews adds films like “Blackfish” and “The Cove” have also changed public opinion on whales and dolphins in captivity.
The Empty Tank protest is one of over 50 happening around the world today.
