Daisy, Helen and Chester may be permitted to stay at the Vancouver Aquarium, but other than those three cetaceans, the park board will uphold a hard line that allows “no exceptions” for future whales, dolphins or porpoises in city parks.
Cetacean performances for public entertainment may also be prohibited.
Elected commissioners voted March 9 to ban cetacean captivity at Stanley Park, where the aquarium is located and therefore subject to park board laws.
Three weeks later, in a meeting closed to the public, commissioners got legal counsel and set a direction for the board, which they will debate publicly May 15.
During that in-camera meeting March 27, the board considered three options and factored in the knowledge the cetaceans, Daisy, Helen and Chester, are all rescue animals the Department of Fisheries and Oceans says will not survive in the wild.
The commissioners discussed these options, according to a park board staff report:
- Banning all cetaceans and setting a date to allow for compliance, meaning the existing three animals would be moved out of Stanley Park
- Allow the existing three cetaceans in the park but prohibit display
- Allow the existing three cetaceans to stay in the park and remain on display but prohibit performance
The aquarium does not have the facilities to house the cetaceans without having them on display, in the opinion of the park board. Also, commissioners considered that the cetaceans are used for "promotional, educational and research purposes" as well as the knowledge the smaller animals --- Daisy, a harbour porpoise, and Helen, a Pacific white-sided dolphin --- have expected lifespans less than five years. However, Chester, a false killer whale, is still growing and in the next 15 years could reach six metres in length.
The motion going before the board May 15 will recommend Daisy, Helen and Chester stay at the aquarium but not be used in “a show, performance or other form of entertainment” that includes one or more of them.
The Vancouver Aquarium holds three daily dolphin shows that are promoted as science-based and educational, highlighting the relationship the animals have with trainers to build trust and enable research.
Twitter: @MHStewart
