No More – No More Expansions 26 Reasons to Boycott the

At a time when public opinion is against the capture and imprisonment of wildlife in , and circuses, the insists on perpetuating the international slave trade. They even deal with infamous pro-whaling countries such as Japan. The Vancouver Aquarium continues to promote the imprisonment of intelligent, sentient creatures such as orcas by promoting Sea World, while they themselves keep belugas and other species. In captivity wildlife suffer physically and psychological because their social and behaviour cannot be provided for in captivity. They die prematurely – in the wild orcas can live over 90 years and other dolphin species can live up to 45 years. They are subjected to experiments and some have been sold or traded to zoos and aquariums worldwide. The Vancouver Aquarium now wants an $80 million dollar expansion with your tax monies and your public parkland. More land has always destroyed precious . More pools have always meant more captives. In 50 years, the Vancouver Aquarium has not had a successful dolphin breeding program. Three orca babies, two beluga babies and one Pacific white-sided dolpin baby have died. The following is a list of known cetacean deaths at the Vancouver Aquarium:

1. “”, who was actually a male orca, was harpooned to be killed as a model for a sculpture in 1964. He survived 86 days. 2. Orca “Natsidalia” was captured in 1968 and died seven months later of heart failure. 3. The dolphin “Splasher” died of internal injuries in 1969 in less than two years in captivity 4. A baby was captured in 1968 and shot due to severe rope cuts from the capture. 5-10. Six were captured in 1970 and died within four months of bacterial infections and starvation. 11. Beluga “Bella” died in 1976 after 8.7 years in captivity. 12. Baby beluga “Tuaq” born to “Kavna” (pregnant when captured) died in 1977 of malnutrition/bacterial infection at four months. 13. Orca “Skana” was captured in 1967 and died in 1980 of a general mycotic infection in less than 14 years in captivity. 14. Beluga “Lugosi” died from severe tissue trauma/leak in lung in 1980 in less than 13 years in captivity. 15. The dolphin “Arion” was obtained in 1983 from (date of death not known). 16. Beluga “Sanaq” captured in 1976 died from shock following an antibiotic injection in 1985. 17. Beluga “Churchill” was the fifth beluga to die. He died of a massive bacterial infection in 1989 after 4 years of captivity. 18. Orca “Bjossa’s” unnamed first baby died of starvation when 22 days old in 1988. 19. “Hyak II” (“Hyak I” was released for unknown reasons) was captured in 1968 and died in 1991 after 22.8 years in captivity. 20. “Bjossa’s” second baby “K’yosha” born on September 30, 1991 died a horrific, painful death 97 days later. 21. “Bjossa’s” third baby born March 1995 died within 10 minutes in front of audience and the decaying body was left in pool. 22. Orca “Finna” dies in October 1997 at only 21 years old. 23. “Bjossa” was moved to Sea World, US in April 2001 and died in October 2001 at only 25 years young. 24. “Whitewings” died in 2002 from respiratory failure - a staff’s arm was put down her throat to remove pool debris from her stomach. 25. Beluga “Tuvaq” born to “Aurora” July 20, 2002 dies July 17, 2005 within 3 years. 26. Pacific white-sided dolphin “Hana” has a stillbirth following 10.5 hours of labour on June 7, 2006.

As of June 2006 at least 9 orcas, 7 narwhals, 6 Belugas, and 4 Pacific white-sided dolphins have died.

There are Many Reasons to Boycott Aquariums Please support environmental and animal rights organizations that have educated the public about the inherent cruelty of captivity and the natural lives of wildlife living freely. We must spend scarce time and funds on protecting natural environments – sanctuaries for all life. Write to: Vancouver Parks Board ([email protected]), the Vancouver Mayor and Council ([email protected]) and your Federal and Provincial Politicians. Tell them to oppose the proposed Vancouver Aquarium $80 million expansion in order to stop the imprisonment of more dolphins and the destruction of Stanley Park green space.

For further information: Lifeforce 604-669-4673 or [email protected] or www.lifeforcefoundation.org