A new poll released Tuesday morning shows that while more than half of Canadians agree that mammals should not be kept in captivity in aquariums and zoos, 80 per cent say that such facilities play an important role in wildlife conservation.
The new study from the Angus Reid Institute polled Canadians on their views on aquariums and zoos. Half of respondents agree that it is wrong to keep an animal in captivity if it is not endangered or injured, however 40 per cent disagreed with that statement. Six-in-10 said that having a zoo or aquarium nearby makes a community a better place to live and 56 per cent disagreed that a person can learn the same thing from a television show that they would experience seeing animals at a zoo.
In B.C., where the Vancouver Aquarium and park board have waged a legal battle over the board’s bylaw banning cetaceans, 40 per cent of respondents said keeping mammals in captivity should be banned while 30 per cent are in favour of allowing the practice.
There are currently only two facilities in the country that house cetaceans — the Vancouver Aquarium and Marineland in Niagara Falls.
Last May, park board commissioners voted to ban the importation of new cetaceans to city parks as well as prohibiting performances. The aquarium challenged the bylaw in B.C. Supreme Court and won — in February the judge ruled that the park board does not have the power to enact the bylaw amendment as it conflicts with the licence agreement with Ocean Wise Conservation Association, which operates the aquarium.
The park board announced in March its intention to appeal the ruling.
In January, the aquarium announced that it would no longer display cetaceans, with the exception of housing Helen, a Pacific white-sided dolphin that is the only cetacean left living at Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium will also continue to temporarily house any rescued marine mammals.
jkerr@vancourier.com
