Canadian parliament today passed legislation banning dolphins and whales from being held or bred in captivity. Violations are going to cost up to $150,000, a move welcomed by animal right activists.
The bill does contain some exceptions. Marine mammals already held will be allowed to remain in captivity. And the animals can be kept during rehabilitation from injury or for the purposes of licensed scientific research.
Animal rights activists have welcomed the move, having long stated the cruelty of keeping animals enclosed in tanks
Thank you, Canada for this historic advancement for whales & dolphins! ❤️?? #EmptyTheTanks #FreeWilly https://t.co/6ry7bgUGgd
— Compassion (@TryVeg) June 11, 2019
Honoured to stand with these beauties, who all played a huge role in finally securing the phase out of whale, dolphin and porpoise captivity for entertainment in Canada. 3.5 years - longest battle a piece of legislation has ever faced in parliament? #s203 #freewilly #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/t5glgGCgjZ
— Steven Parkinson (@foodwaterpeace) June 11, 2019
Advertisement
??? This is my good news story of the day! Go Canada!! #Openthetanks #freewilly https://t.co/0xAf553DWS
— Ellen Husain Media (@ellen_husain) June 12, 2019
Best news of 2019
CAN ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOW THE SMART ONE PLEASE?#FreeWilly forever from ALL parks already! https://t.co/4UXr0Bdw6i— Luisy (@GoProGirlMiami) June 12, 2019
It is reported that the measure notably impacts Marineland, the Niagara Falls amusement park and zoo that is considered the last Canadian park committed to keeping cetaceans in captivity.
Marineland has some 61 cetaceans, including 55 beluga whales, five bottlenose dolphins and one orca, according to the data from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
