VHS is opposed to the captivity of cetaceans (whales and dolphins), as they are highly intelligent and social animals who have evolved to a very specific set of environmental circumstances that simply cannot be replicated in captivity.
We shouldn’t expect animals to thrive in a completely unnatural environment and the frequency of premature deaths of cetaceans held in aquariums supports this view.
Locally, VHS called on the Vancouver Aquarium to phase-out its captive cetacean program for many years. In December of 2016, VHS and Zoocheck Canada published a press release and report challenging the aquarium’s claim that keeping cetaceans provided research that justified their captivity.
In 2019, Canada banned cetacean captivity but many other species continue to be held at the Vancouver Aquarium and other aquariums around the world.
Latest news
The Vancouver Aquarium needs a new vision
News that the Vancouver Aquarium is suing the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Park Board over the 2017 cetacean ban is a sad reminder that the aquarium remains out of step with changes in public attitudes and has no vision for the future that could reflect those changes. With federal legislation banning cetacean captivity…
BC SPCA and VHS seek leave to intervene in Vancouver Aquarium lawsuit against City of Vancouver Park Board
UPDATE (Sept 19, 2017): We are disappointed to report that the B.C. Supreme court has not granted VHS and the BC SPCA leave to intervene in the Vancouver Aquarium’s lawsuit against the Vancouver Park Board. Today (Sept 7), as described in the press release below, VHS is joining with the BC SPCA in seeking to speak on…