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Santa Barbara Dolphin Biologist Creates List Of 10 Worst Tanks For Whales: SeaWorld Owns Top Three

By Nancy Bailey
Published on: 12:46 PST, Jul 26, 2016

A Santa Barbara dolphin biologist has teamed up with international animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals, to create the first-ever 10 Worst Tanks for Dolphins & Whales list.

The list was released for facilities in North America, with the SeaWorld as Number One for, “most disappointing”.

The 10 Worst Tanks list, according to the Santa Barbara Independent, “exposes and represents the misery and suffering of the oceans’ most intelligent and complex mammals in captivity.”

“Whales and dolphins are subject to astonishing rates of premature death, captivity-related injuries, forced removal of babies from mothers, and solitary isolation. Many are confined to swimming endless circles in cramped tanks, deprived of healthy social groups, and forced to endure invasive reproduction techniques, polluted water, dangerous transport, and brutal exploitation of their sociable natures through ‘swim’ and ‘petting’ programs.”

The list was compiled after evaluation of over 60 facilities, from southern Canada to Mexico, where nearly 1,000 whales and dolphins are living in captivity. Dr. Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., Cetacean Scientist for In Defense of Animals, headed the team effort to organize it.

“Beneath the glitz, glamour, and dolphins’ permanently fixed ‘smiles’ is a world of pain and suffering in these brilliant and complex mammals of the sea. SeaWorld and other aquariums deprive whales and dolphins of the lives they’ve adapted to live for millions of years in the wild, and steal from them what we value most; freedom and family.”

SeaWorld, with three facilities tying for No. 1, has experienced a severe decline in attendance since the screening of the documentary film, Blackfish. In March of this year, SeaWorld announced an end to its orca breeding program, but then said it was going to open up a “swim with the dolphins” program, a gesture that created a whole new surge of public protest.

Marineland in Niagara Falls is home to Kiska, Canada’s last captive orca, who lives in solitary confinement. All of Kiska’s five offspring have died, and she has outlived 17 other companion orcas. The stress of loneliness is taking its toll, as she shows signs of being underweight and has ground down all her teeth from chewing on the concrete.

In Defense of Animals refers to No. 4, the Georgia Aquarium, as “the dying pool”, as three beluga whales expired there between 2012 and 2015, One Green Planet said. The aquarium now holds a number of beluga whales that were captured from the wild in Russian waters.

10 Worst Tanks

1. SeaWorld, San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; Orlando, Florida

2. Marineland, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

3. Puerto Aventuras Dolphin Discovery, Mayan Riviera, Quinta Roo, Mexico

4. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia

5. Miami Seaquarium, Miami, Florida

6. Six Flags Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

7. Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, Mississippi and Unnamed new facility planned by same owner also in Gulfport, Mississippi

8. Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

9. Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

10. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois

Dishonorable Mention:

Dophinaris, Scottsdale, Arizona

Honorable Mention:

National Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland

In Defense of Animals President, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick, commented on the list.

“These ten aquariums really plumb the depths in their exploitation of intelligent and sensitive animals. Even with the most modern technology, veterinary care, and infrastructure, cetaceans still suffer intensely in captivity and exhibit surprisingly high mortality rates. Please help protect dolphins and whales in the wild where they belong, by pledging to never visit facilities that imprison them.”

[Photo by John Raoux, File/AP Images]

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