$EA LION$ While Mexico City just banned cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) and pinnipeds (seals, sea lions) from performing at the city's local aquarium, the Vancouver Aquarium is instead opening a new animal encounter exhibit so you can cuddle a sea lion for $$$. These sea lions (who were wild-captured as pups for so called "research") are the Aquarium's new cash cows, now that there are no beluga whales left in the tank. 22 years ago the Aquarium got a permit to capture 5 sea lion pups for "research". The permit specified that the pups should not be kept on display as to not imprint on humans, and that after a couple of years of research at the Aquarium, the pups would be reintroduced back into the wild. Well, that never happened. Throughout the decades, the Aquarium staff have captured dozens and dozens of pups, taken away from their mothers and families only to be trained not just to perform for the public, but also to be used by the US Navy in war maneuvers. And who knows how many have been also sold to other aquariums around the world!?! HERE'S THE LATEST VANCOUVER AQUARIUM PROPAGANDA: "Get closer to Steller sea lions than ever before at the new Steller’s Bay. Come nose to snout with these amazing and expressive creatures in our new underwater viewing area and watch as they take part in important research to help uncover why their numbers have declined in the wild." SHAME ON THE AQUARIUM! Watch this film clip of how this magnificent marine mammal has to stoop to begging for food as they are kept hungry so they will perform on demand. Oh, and sorry for the ignorant comments you will hear of people who just don't get it or simply chose not to witness the cruelty involved in this form of public entertainment.