Dear
Commissioners,
My field of expertise is animal
behaviour; especially, cetaceans. For 10 years I worked closely with killer
whales at an aquarium. For nine of those years I was the head trainer and
oversaw the operations of the facility’s marine animal rescue centre. During
that time, I was a regular guest speaker to animal behaviour classes at the University
of Victoria and to psychology classes at Camosun College. During my days
working with captive marine mammals I was well acquainted with the Vancouver
Aquarium and we shared information and resources when Gil and Stephanie Hewlett
were heading the facility. Currently, I am an advisor to the Whale Sanctuary
Project.
I once defended the holding of
whales and dolphins in captivity, citing the value of research, education and
the importance of the public being able to form a connection to the animal through
their personal encounter. Over the span of years; through my daily interactions
with cetaceans, along with research and discussions with experts in the field
of animal behaviour, I gained an understanding of the depth and breadth of
their intelligence and emotional capabilities.
The realization of the
intricacies of their intelligence and behaviour was one that took time for me
to accept and integrate because it placed my actions in conflict with my
understanding and empathy. I had learned that whales and dolphins are complex
communicators, highly social, cognitive thinkers with long term memory and
express a wide range of emotions. They exhibit enjoyment, affection,
loyalty and they even display compassion and altruistic behaviour, are self-aware
and have distinct and unique… personalities.
These are traits that humans hold
in high regard and how we define ourselves as the apex species on the planet.
But, if whales and dolphins share these same psychological and behavioural
traits, why are we not willing to extend the right to self-determination to
another species simply because they look, live and communicate differently from
our own.
British psychologist, Richard D.
Ryder termed the attitude and belief of human supremacy and dominion over all
other animals as; “speciesism” and equated it to racism or sexism. I would like
to think that as compassionate, caring Canadians, we would place the welfare of
an intelligent, sensitive and social species before our own wants and
desires.
As you are likely aware, the
Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans is currently discussing an
amendment to Bill S-203; Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. An
Act to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts (ending the captivity of whales
and dolphins)
Those witnesses speaking on
behalf of the Vancouver Aquarium and Marineland of Ontario, who have spoken
against the amendment, have touted the value of education, research and the
personal connection that visitors experience when seeing the animals in
captivity.
Whales and dolphins have been in
captivity for over fifty years and have been observed by millions upon millions
of people. If the claims that this “up close and personal” encounter educates
and motivates humans to develop a connection and respect for these animals, why
is it that the ocean environments in which they live are in such desperate
condition? Where are the millions of voices crying out to save the St. Lawrence
Belugas? What of the Southern Resident Killer Whales who are starving for
chinook salmon, harassed by boaters; their bodies saturated with toxins.
There is a subtle and subliminal
disconnect that our children learn from visiting whales, dolphins and other
animals in captivity; that humans have the right to do whatever they choose
with the animals. We can use them for entertainment, we can use them for
experimentation and we can hold them in captivity under the guise of education.
In essence, children are learning that animals have no right to
self-determination and that we alone determine if and how they exist.
Therefore, animals are expendable and hold a lessor status in our world.
The debate around the ethics of
holding animals in captivity has never been more pronounced and especially in
regard to whales and dolphins. This is likely because they are not a
terrestrial animal and in captivity, live in a highly artificial environment
that cannot possibly replicate conditions in the wild. Physical exercise in
captivity is incomparable to their life in the wild where they travel widely
and experience the exertion of hunting and capturing food. In captivity, their
social behaviour is altered, in-breeding may occur, natural communications are
affected due to environmental constraints.
Successive generations of animals
born into captivity will be further weakened by a limited gene pool, an aseptic
environment, a diet supplemented with vitamins and medications to maintain
their health, and a stagnant, unchallenging lifestyle. The physiological and
behavioural constraints of captivity have stripped them of the challenges of
life that strengthened them as a species and ensured their survival and ability
to thrive. Future animals that are born into captivity will become mere
charlatans of their wild counterparts.
For the most part, research being
done with captive cetaceans at the Vancouver Aquarium has been ineffectual to
the conservation of wild cetaceans and more often is a rationalization for, or
purely beneficial to, their continued captivity. New technologies have
made research in the field more effective and less costly.
Throughout the developed world,
efforts to discontinue the practice of keeping whales and dolphins in captivity
continue to grow. Ten countries in the world have either banned the keeping of
dolphins or whales in captivity, or have imposed standards of care that exceed
the viability of establishing a facility in the country; such as the United
Kingdom.
Currently, the only expanding
markets are in Russia and China. Even so, within those countries there is an
increasing voice of dissent against holding whales and dolphins captive.
The Vancouver Aquarium is a well
accredited and widely respected organization. Their Marine Mammal Rescue Centre
is an asset and its education programs are world class.
It is disappointing that even
though John Nightingale has stated publicly that the Vancouver Aquarium will
survive without its cetacean displays, he continues to resist change. Mr.
Nightingale’s statement that they will have no other choice than to kill whales
and dolphins if they can’t keep them at the aquarium, is an alarming denial of
the other options available
.
The
inflammatory statement made by Randy Pratt, incoming Board Chair of the
aquarium, that: “The proposed ban jeopardizes Canada’s only marine mammal
rescue program and eliminates our ability to save the most vulnerable of
animals — those that cannot care for themselves,” Is such an obvious falsehood,
it’s embarrassing. I find it very concerning that
Mr. Pratt, Mr. Nightingale and Dr. Haulena are so desperate as to use
exaggerated threats and veiled lies in order to manipulative public opinion.
It’s time
that the Vancouver Aquarium put aside its intransigence. If they truly want to
put the welfare of the animals as a priority, they would allow the belugas that
were loaned to SeaWorld and the Georgia Aquarium, to stay where they are and
not subject the whales to the highly stressful and life-threatening experience
of being relocated
.
If
permitted to continue maintaining “rescued” cetaceans at the aquarium, I can’t
help but wonder how far they would go in order to qualify an animal as unable
to be released, in order to maintain their attraction at the aquarium.
Throughout the world there has
been a paradigm shift in public attitude about animal welfare. In Canada,
consumers have supported the phasing out of constrictive battery cages for hens
and the use of gestation crates for pigs. Intolerance of animal abuse has never
been more pronounced. Industrial livestock production is under intense scrutiny
and in the U.S., animal abuse is a felony offence in an expanding number of
states
.
What we
are witnessing is a new epoch in human understanding and an evolving increase
of empathy as science continues to offer new insights into animal
behaviour. Public
opinion is not going to reverse itself and within Canada, the demands for an
end to captivity for cetaceans, will only grow louder.
.
Thank
for taking the time to read this lengthy observation/opinion. I welcome
your questions or comments.
Steve Huxter
Victoria,
British Columbia
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“In
the past 30 years, new research has emerged on the complexity of
cetaceans and their ability to communicate, to create social bonds and
to demonstrate cognitive abilities such as self-awareness, recognition
of individuals and memory,” says Dr. Sara Dubois, chief scientific
officer for the BC SPCA.