| Adopt a dolphin update May 2016 |
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Opening day demonstration at Marineland. On one side of the chain link fence families were lined up to enjoy a day of fun and activities at Marineland. On the other side of the fence were hundreds of animal activists voicing their concerns about the treatment and captivity of animals.
Keeping a close eye on the situation were Niagara Regional Police who were kept busy directing traffic and making sure things remained peaceful.
The annual opening day demonstration at Marineland began at 11 a.m. on Saturday and continued until about 2 p.m. with closing remarks by a number of the participants.
"Opening day is always one of the larger protests and right now we have about 300 people that have come to join us," said Mike Garrett, organizer and long-time anti captivity advocate from the Niagara area.
"We are not backing down and we want them to know we are not going anywhere until they end their animal program at this facility," said Garrett. "The people who are standing in line waiting to get in are our captive audience right now. This is great because we get to speak with them and speak our mind as is our right here in Canada."
Garrett said many people turn away once they see the demonstration and read some of the signs. He encourages people to do their own research about Marineland and then make up their own minds.
Tracy Warner, a first-time protester from Uxbridge who attended with her husband, Charles, and their two daughters, said she decided it was time to stand up and have her voice heard.
"Our kids were very involved in making the signs and t-shirts. I'm raising my kids so that they know this is not acceptable. Animals have feelings and compassion and they cannot be treated like this," said Warner. "It's encouraging to see some of the people who are going in turn around and leave. I'm going to keep fighting for this."
Warner said Marineland would be more successful if it got rid of its animals and concentrated more on the amusement park.
"They could make just as much money, if not more, by getting the animals out and putting in more rides. People would give them more support. I'm sure we are a thorn in their side, but we are not a thorn that is going away," she said.
Lee Anne Lane, a resident of St. Catharines, has been attending the demonstrations for the past 22 years.
"When this was started there were only a few of us, but it has grown," said Lane. "The children are our future and we need to make them aware of what is going on here."
Shawn Lane said if people want to see these types of animals, the best place to see them is in their natural environment, not in a tank or pool.
"I like to ride bikes, but I wouldn't like to just ride in a circle in an arena. You want to ride free, whales should be free. I just don't agree with the idea of keeping these animals in captivity."
Marineland officials have always maintained they take good care of their animals. On their website, they address a number of allegations that have been made against them over the years which they say have proven to be false.
One such criticism made earlier this year involved an anonymous video that was released by a Los Angeles based animal activist group in which they made allegations of criminal animal abuse against employees of Marineland. Another allegation alleged that Kiska the killer whale had died.
Marineland has said some of the allegations made against them "are completely and knowing false."
In its defense, Marineland says it "is the most thoroughly investigated marine mammal facility in the world." In addition, all of its animals "have been inspected by numerous independent scientists and experts over the last three years, including by an independent panel of three experts appointed by the Government of Ontario.
Video of Baby Dolphin in Marine Park Shows Exactly How These Animals Feel About Captivity.
Dolphins are among the most complex and intelligent species on the planet. They are extremely self-aware and have deep social and emotional bonds with their pod members. The bond between a mother and baby dolphin is said to be one of the strongest on Earth. Adding to the beauty of these animals is the fact that they also have very large and developed brains that enable them to learn and adjust to their surroundings. Dolphins have even demonstrated the ability to mimic human speech and vocalizations. But despite the brilliance of dolphins, humans still insist on keeping them captive in marine parks.
The video above shows exactly how taking dolphins from their multifaceted lives in the wild impacts this species. This little one is currently living at Loro Parque in Spain. In the YouTube description, the people who filmed the dolphin explain,”We watched this baby dolphin, after a show, for over 10 minutes until we were asked to leave. When we questioned the trainers as to why this dolphin was left alone for such a long period of time in the heat with no shade, they became extremely defensive and aggressive, stating that the dolphin wasn’t on its own … our video footage begs to differ… we were then ushered out by security.”
Bobbing listlessly at the water’s surface is a telltale sign of mental distress. The boredom and frustration of life in a tank has led dolphins to exhibit stereotypic behaviors such as swimming in circles repetitively, establishing pecking orders, and lying motionless at the surface or on the aquarium floor for relatively long periods of time. Dolphins have also been known to slam themselves against the sides of tanks. In absolute desperation, these animals can also choose to consciously stop breathing and end their own lives.
It is up to all of us to take a stand for these beautiful creatures by refusing to pay for their suffering. You can help make a difference for these highly intelligent animals by boycotting all marine parks and sharing videos like this one to raise awareness!
UPDATE: SeaWorld: End Your Dolphin Breeding Program! It's no FLUKE, we want to FINish the cruelty. Please help us raise awareness, to stop the suffering at Marineland, Canada. Tourists who visit Niagara Falls, do not realize that the animals confined to a lifetime of captivity at Marineland, are enduring endless anguish, distress, pain and illness, due to confined quarters, improper facilities, inadequate care and understaffing. Fins and Fluke needs your help, to put an end to this cruelty!
Whales, dolphins, sea lions, walruses and deer are subjected to maltreatment and neglect.
Marine mammals are trapped in cramped tanks, with inadequate space to move. Resulting in injury from fighting and being pushed against the tank walls.
A baby beluga died after a two hour attack by adult male belugas. No trained staff were present to assist. Dolphins, walruses and sea lions have endured chemical burns, ulcerated eyes, vision issues, blindness and loss of skin, due to poor water quality.
We need your assistance to educate the public about the substandard treatment at Marineland! Can we count on you to chip in $50 to keep our bus ad alive?
Marineland is the home of Kiska, the only orca in the world who resides entirely alone. Kiska has no stimulation, and has suffered horrendous health conditions, weight loss, deteriorating dorsal fin, indented blow hole, damaged teeth and bleeding tail.
For orcas who naturally live in large family pods, living in isolation, is torture. All five of Kiska's calves have died and Marineland. With no enrichment and poor quality of life, Kiska can be found swimming in circles, floating listlessly and scratching her body against the side of her tank.
Please donate today! Support our advertisement appearing on transit buses in the Niagara region.
The animals at a Canadian marine park are suffering and they need our help now! Give today to help place an educational ad on local transportation. https://secure.actblue.com
Original Petition: SeaWorld: End Your Dolphin Breeding Program!
SeaWorld has announced that they will be ending their captive orca breeding program. We applaud them for their decision and thank them for doing the right thing. We now urge them to end their dolphin breeding program, and keep heading in the right direction to a captive mammal-free park (with the exception of TRUE rescue)!
Dolphins in captivity live in sterile crowded environments, often forced to perform several times a day for food. Some of the dolphins at SeaWorld are also forced to participate in swim-with programs. [Click here to learn more about swim-with-dolphin programs and why they are bad for dolphins AND people.] Dolphin captivity also teaches children that it is okay for us take large, intelligent mammals and force them to do what we think is best. We should be teaching our children about conservation and protection instead, as well as the many threats that all marine-life face in our dying oceans.
SeaWorld claims that their breeding programs help to save dolphins from the drive-hunts in Taiji, while partially true as currently do not purchase these animals from Japan, they are still participating in holding these animals captive. SeaWorld is setting an example to other captive facilities around the world by breeding and keeping these animals in tanks. They should be showing the rest of the world that they can change their business model and be successful!
We are asking SeaWorld to give the same treatment of their captive orcas to the dolphin breeding program. It's time to phase out the dolphin shows and the breeding program. They are continually making amazing drastic steps to improve the parks and the well-being of the animals in their care. We would love to see them include dolphins in any future plans. Some of the dolphins could also be released back into the wild, which would further promote their rescue and rehabilitation plans. It would truly speak volumes to see them do the right thing again!
As we said in our last petition regarding the orca program, the only true way to end captivity is to end the breeding program! Please do the right thing for the dolphin in your care!
Sources:
- Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project
- Animal Welfare Institute
- Captive Animals Protection Society
This petition will be delivered to: CEO of SeaWorld, Joel Manby, SeaWorld Chief Zoological Officer
Brad Andrews, Vice President of Veterinary Services, Chris Dold, Chief Parks Operations Officer and Dan Brown
Stop Contributing to the Killing of Endangered Dolphins.
Target: Steve EasterBrook, CEO of McDonald’s
Goal: Stop contributing to the destruction of ocean ecosystems and the killing of endangered dolphins by serving unsustainable fish.
A leaked report reveals that major fast food chain McDonald’s has allegedly been sourcing fish from unsustainable industries, and thus indirectly caused huge damage to fragile fisheries. The report by the New Zealand government shows unlawful fishing practices in its waters with the fishing of hoki, a fish species largely used by McDonald’s, being reportedly unsustainable and damaging due to the use of bottom-trawling to capture the fish and the alleged dumping of dead fish in huge numbers.
The hoki fishing industry has also been slated for killing members of the endangered Maui’s dolphin species, of which only 50 individuals are known to survive. McDonald’s must stop allegedly contributing to these destructive practices by replacing fish items in their menu with more sustainable food offerings, such as plant-based replacements.
Sign this petition urging McDonald’s to take a stand against overfishing and the damage it wreaks on the oceans and serve sustainable menu items instead.
Dear Mr. Easterbrook,
McDonald’s has reportedly been buying and serving fish caught using unsustainable methods. A leaked report by the New Zealand government points to the unsustainable practices of the hoki fishing industry. These include discarding vast quantities of dead fish back into the ocean and accidentally catching and killing endangered Maui’s dolphins.
As a leading fast food chain, McDonald’s has the opportunity to pave the way for kinder and more responsible methods of food production. Please drop fish and other foods obtained through destructive practices from your menu and add in sustainable and cruelty-free plant-based items instead, the likes of which are already gaining in popularity at McDonalds itself and other fast food restaurants.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: N Chadwick
Mississippi leaders: Don't Use BP Restoration Dollars for a Dolphin Prison!
TARGET: Governor Phil Bryant; Gary Rikard, Mississippi Department of Environ... more, Mississippi
A Message from Kelly McNab Williams and an Overview of the petition
BP's deepwater drilling disaster in 2010 had a huge impact on dolphins - killing them, making them sick, and even keeping them from having healthy calves for years after the spill. But instead of helping restore dolphin habitat and populations, Mississippi is planning on spending $17 million in restoration funds to build an aquarium on the coast. Even worse? This aquarium plans on putting captive dolphins on display! The Governor's plan makes BP's dolphin disaster even more tragic.
Tell Governor Bryant not to spend any BP restoration dollars on a new dolphin prison!
I used to work as a dolphin trainer at Marine Life in Gulfport, before it was washed away by Hurricane Katrina. I know first-hand that a new facility for captive dolphins is the last thing Mississippi needs.
The Mississippi Gulf coast has amazing wild dolphin pods, and great opportunities for tourists to see them in their natural habitat. But dolphins aren't meant to be in captivity. They die from stress-related sicknesses, they fight with other dolphins, and they are forced to perform behaviors they would never exhibit in the wild. Entertainment for tourists doesn't justify their unnatural treatment.
The Gulf desperately needs BP dollars to go to ecosystem restoration and recovery - wetlands, blue water, living shorelines. It's outrageous that the single largest project that the state intends to spend BP dollars on is this aquarium! Sign my petition and join me in telling the Governor and state restoration leaders to stop their plans to fund this dolphin prison with BP dollars.
