ACTION ALERT: March 08, 2000
Another whale death at Marineland: killer whale dies just 10 weeks
after beluga death
Malik, a nearly 4 year old killer whale, died at Marineland of Canada
in Niagara Falls on Saturday March 4th. Malik’s death comes
approximately 10 weeks after the death of another Marineland whale, a
beluga recently imported >from Russia.
Malik’s death is sure to add fuel to efforts to end the confinement
of whales in marine amusement parks and aquaria in Canada, as well as
their capture from the wild.
“A nearly 4 year old killer whale is just a baby. Marine parks claim
they provide a safe and healthy environment for whales, yet the death toll
keeps growing. Our inquiries suggest that more than 50% of all the killer
whales kept by Marineland, including whales that they transferred to other
facilities, are now dead, ” said Rob Laidlaw, Director, Zoocheck Canada.
According to World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
Communications Director Patrick Tohill, “This most recent death clearly
highlights the fact that these animals don’t do well in captivity. The
biological and behavioural needs of these far ranging, deep diving,
socially complex sea mammals can’t be met in aquarium tanks.”
Animal Protection Institute (API) International Program Director Barry
Kent MacKay adds, “These wonderful animals who belong in the vast
expanses of the ocean are dying to amuse us and it really isn’t amusing
to anyone who cares. It’s long past time for Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of
Fisheries and Oceans, to demonstrate simple compassion and humanity by
ending Canada’s role in this heartless practise.”
Marineland was the subject of intense criticism in 1999 for importing
twelve beluga whales from Russia. At least nine of the belugas were wild
caught in the Sea of Okhotsh.
Urge Mr. Dhaliwal to end the capture of whales in Canadian waters and
their importation into Canada from other jurisdictions for marine parks
and aquaria.
For more information, please visit the Zoocheck Canada website at http://www.zoocheck.com
Zoocheck Canada Inc.
3266 Yonge Street, Suite 1729
Toronto, ON
M4N 3P6
Ph (416) 285-1744
Fax (416) 285-4670
E-Mail: zoocheck@idirect.com
Web Site: http://www.zoocheck.com
Registered Charity No. 0828459-54
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