| The Province EDITORIAL
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Editorial | Send a letter to the edito - Beluga calf death cries
out for thorough study
It's too early to blame anyone for the untimely death of Tuvaq,
the beluga calf that suddenly stopped breathing Sunday in front
of a crowd of onlookers at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Aquarium veterinarian Dave Huff said there were no signs that the
young beluga, which had just had a routine blood test, was ill.
Huff likened its death to a teen football player who suddenly keels
over and dies.
But long-time whale activist Peter Hamilton, of Lifeforce, insisted
that imprisoning these large mammals causes them to die prematurely:
"In captivity, dolphins suffer physically and psychologically
since their behavioural and social needs cannot be met."
Certainly, the aquarium needs to do a thorough review of Tuvaq's
death.
It must also carefully consider why it continues to keep these
magnificent wild animals in captivity.
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fax: 604-605-2099 or e-mail: provletters@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2005
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Letters | Send a letter to the editor
Tuvaq's death reignites captive beluga debate
Vancouver Province
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
This sad event at Vancouver Aquarium speaks volumes about the problems
surrounding keeping large marine mammals in artificially created
environments.
But, let's face it, the real reason these animals are in these
horrid confinement situations is that there is big money to be made.
Despite their early whale deaths from so many grievous causes in
their pools and tanks, aquarium owners are loathe to give up their
whale displays for fear that it will hurt not their hearts but their
wallets.
As anyone, including myself, who has ever visited the Vancouver
Aquarium will tell you, keeping six of the white whales in their
small-sized pools is utterly cruel, heartless and exploitative.
Taffy Williams,
New York
© The Vancouver Province 2005
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Letters | Send a letter to the editor
Whales can't thrive in an alien environment
Letter
July 19, 2005
Re: Baby beluga dies in front of crowd, July 18
"We don't have the slightest idea [what caused Tuvaq's death],"
says Dr. David Huff of the Vancouver Aquarium. Really? Common sense
dictates that it's more than likely captivity is to blame. When
you raise an animal in an alien environment that is thousands or
millions times smaller than his natural environment, how can you
expect him to thrive?
It's time that the public, including our economy-stimulating tourists,
stopped paying the aquarium to abuse animals for public entertainment
under the thinly disguised veil of education. Shame on the aquarium
and shame on those who pay to to watch animals suffer.
Debra Probert
Executive Director
Vancouver Humane Society
© The Vancouver Sun 2005
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Letters | Send a letter to the editor
Aquarium staff deserve support
Letter
July 19, 2005
It feels almost like tradition: Tragedy strikes the Vancouver Aquarium,
and Annelise Sorg of the Coalition for No Whales in Captivity pops
up to take advantage of it. I'm consistently disappointed in The
Sun for lending credibility to this lonely and uncredentialed voice.
I'll never understand how she can look at the whales and see what
she sees.
My condolences go out to the staff of the aquarium (and to belugas
Aurora, Kavna, Imaq, Allua and Qila), and I continue to support
them in their commendable efforts.
Steve Vanden-Eykel
New Westminster
© The Vancouver Sun 2005
© The Vancouver Province 2005
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