Seven Dead After Whales and Dolphins Transferred Between Aquariums
Another beluga has died following the mass relocation of whales and dolphins from Marineland Canada.
Cyprus, a nine-year-old male beluga, died at SeaWorld San Diego less than two months after being transferred from the closed Canadian marine park.
According to SeaWorld, Cyprus had initially been eating regularly and adjusting to his new surroundings. But he suddenly stopped eating. Veterinary examinations revealed that his intestinal tract was not functioning normally, indicating a potentially life-threatening condition. Despite emergency treatment, Cyprus died. His cause of death remains under investigation.
Seven whales and dolphins have now died following the relocation. Four belugas died at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while Jelly Bean, a beluga, and Echo, a dolphin, died at Oceanogràfic Valencia in Spain.
Cyprus is the seventh.
Investigations have identified serious pre-existing health conditions in some of these animals, but the deaths have not been established as consequences of transportation. The animals were moved because Marineland Canada could no longer keep them. Their destinations were other facilities where they would remain captive.
Their deaths expose the vulnerability of animals whose entire lives depend on institutions that can close, change ownership or decide to transfer them elsewhere.
Spain continues to permit dolphin and whale captivity, including the importation of cetaceans from other countries. 8,000 people have now signed our petition demanding an end to this exploitation.
Please keep signing and sharing. These animals deserve more than a lifetime of confinement and transfers between aquariums.
You may also be interested in our latest petition: NORWAY: BAN WHALING
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