The Province July 17, 2003
Letters to the Editor
Always swim with a buddy
While I'm against keeping marine mammals in captivity, particularly
whales housed in tanks, I can see that keeping a social animal like
Spinnaker alone is also a travesty.
I'm certain the Vancouver Aquarium staff can find a friend for Spinnaker
to swim with -- one who has been born in captivity or that has already
acclimatized to life in a tank.
The best interests of the animal must be taken into consideration
above all else. A friend for Spinnaker can only be a good thing.
However, if the aquarium was to capture a dolphin to be a friend
for Spinnaker I would be one of the many placard- waving protesters
sitting at the aquarium's doorstep.
Yvonne Brien, Aldergrove
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Send in a mate
I think this poor lonesome dolphin needs a mate, or two. Spinnaker
needs some social stimulation with his own species. And the Vancouver
Aquarium needs more dolphins to better educate the public.
If it wasn't for the aquarium having a dolphin, I would never have
seen up close just how beautiful and amazing these creature are.
Shelly Dueck, Abbotsford
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Dolphin really a cow
I'd respect Vancouver Aquarium president John Nightingale more
if he'd admit that these large captive animals are a cash cow for
the Vancouver Aquarium.
If they really cared about their large cetaceans they would send
them to another aquarium with a large population of their own kind
and allow them to live out their days with company. Releasing them
into the wild would be a death sentence, unfortunately.
Cam Traviss, Vancouver
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Friends are in the ocean
The Vancouver Aquarium's request for more dolphins is ridiculous.
It's bad enough they have one already. They say Spinnaker needs
a friend. Yes, get him several friends in his natural environment.
Candice Ridyard, Maple Ridge
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Living in world of one no fun
Yes, of course Spinnaker should have a mate, maybe two.
How would Annelise Sorg of the Coalition for No Whales in Captivity
like to live without a mate? How would any one like living in a
world of one? It's about time the fleas on the tails of the dogs
in this country quit wagging the dog.
Mark Pipke, Surrey
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Public should have say
My emotions ride high when a select few with a bee in their bonnet
decide to dictate what is good for the general public. We are recent
empty-nesters and our kids still talk about our visits to the Stanley
Park zoo and aquarium.
Of course Springer should have friends. These animals are not on
the endangered species list.
The decisions at the aquarium should be made by the general public
not by self-serving lobbyists.
Rick Kielan, Surrey
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Happy dolphin a good thing
Although I don't necessarily agree with animals in captivity, I
believe it is an essential educational experience for young and
old. And, as long as Spinnaker is happy, then no harm is done.
Gillian Wilburn, West Vancouver
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