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Captivity News Archive 2008
Corky - 39 sad years
(Added: 12 December 2008)
December 11th, 2008 marked the 39th anniversary of the capture of a family of northern resident orcas in Pender Harbour, British Columbia. The captured pod, known later as the A5s, was very nearly destroyed when six, half of the pod’s members, were forcibly removed and sent to various aquaria around the world. Corky, then just five years old, is today, the sole survivor of those captured. Most died within a few years.
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Sad day for Cayman Islands
(Added: 08 December 2008)
After years of dedicated campaigning, sadly we have received news from our colleagues in the Cayman Islands that six dolphins arrived from the British Virgin Islands on 4 December, the first captive dolphins to be held on the islands.
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More dolphin exports from Solomon Islands
(Added: 08 December 2008)
It appears that, as feared, rumours of exports to the Far East may be more than rumour if this report from todays' Solomon Star newspaper is correct.
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Istanbul opens new complex
(Added: 07 December 2008)
The newly opened Istanbul marine complex - a joint Russian-Turkish project holds dolphins, seals, walruses and whales, all of which perform in the shows. In addition to the shows, members of the public can also swim with the dolphins - something which the facility are pushing as having a "calming and theraputic" effect on participants - but what about the dolphins?
UAE media response to Kylie question
(Added: 30 November 2008)
Marine Connection Director, Margaux Dodds recently spoke with UEA newspaper 7 Days on the charity's decision to remove Kylie as a supporter of the charity following her Atlantis concert.
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Why Atlantis? - ask Kylie
(Added: 20 November 2008)
The UK Sun newspaper are hosting a webchat with Kylie Minogue on Friday, 21 November 2008 - please take this opportunity to add your comments.
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South Africa plans wild dolphin captures
(Added: 20 October 2008)
The Marine Connection has received reports that plans are underway for wild dolphins to be captured from Algoa Bay to help secure the future of Bayworld. The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality has endorsed the recommendation for the dolphin aquisition programme.
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Calls for release of whale shark from Atlantis, Dubai
(Added: 19 October 2008)
The Palm Atlantis resort in Dubai are being bombarded by demands for them to release the young whale shark currently held at the facility.
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First calf born to killer whale raised in captivity
(Added: 19 October 2008)
A killer whale known as "Lovey" who was born and bred in captivity recently gave birth to a calf, the first time this has happened in Japan. Kamogawa Sea World said that the baby is reportedly healthy and swimming along with its mother.
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Solomons' dolphin protector abducted and beaten
(Added: 28 August 2008)
On Tuesday, August 19th, at about 8:30 pm, City Councilor, Lawrence Makili, was abducted from his home in Honiara, Solomon Islands, by eight men in two cars. He was then driven a few kilometers out of town when the thugs beat him and tried to kill him.
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Further questions raised on Dolphin Assisted Therapy
(Added: 28 July 2008)
In a recently published scientific paper by paediatricians Anna Baverstock and Fiona Finlay of the Community Child Health Department in Bath conclude that there is no reliable evidence that DAT actually works. Finlay and Baverstock go so far as to say that it may even prevent patients from seeking more effective and traditional forms of treatment.
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Stillborn calf at National Aquarium
(Added: 23 July 2008)
Shiloh, a 29 year old bottlenose dolphin (one of the two pregnant dolphins at the National Aquarium in Baltimore), gave birth to a stillborn calf, weighing around 32lbs, on 14 July. "It's always very hard to report things like this. When it's a baby, it breaks our heart," said Sue Hunter, director of marine mammal training, "Nobody wants to see it end this way." The calf will now undergo a necropsy to try to ascertain the reason for the stillbirth, results will be available in around a months' time.
Seventh dolphin dies at Curacao facility
(Added: 17 July 2008)
Nemo, a six year old bottlenose dolphin at the Curacao Dolphin Therapy Centre died after contracting a small wound on his navel which subsequently became infected.
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Marineland, New Zealand to close
(Added: 03 July 2008)
The Marine Connection is delighted to report that the only remaining facility in New Zealand housing captive marine mammals, Marineland in Napier is to close.
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Further dolphin captures in Solomon Islands
(Added: 01 July 2008)
The Marine Connection has received reports that 12 dolphins have recently been captured from the wild in the Solomon Islands and are currently held in sea pens.
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Thomson/TUI say no to Turkey but yes to Dubai
(Added: 26 June 2008)
Following the exposure of conditions at a captive dolphin facility in Turkey earlier this month, the Marine Connection is happy to report that we have received written confirmation from Thomson that both they and their parent company TUI Travel PLC have stopped selling excursions to the facility.
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Vancouver Aquarium's beluga calf ill
(Added: 25 June 2008)
A beluga born at Vancouver Aquarium a few weeks ago is said to be suffering from a tail infection.
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'Year of the dolphin' partners set to profit from SI dolphins
(Added: 24 June 2008)
The Marine connection has for some time had concerns over tour operators selling excursions to captive dolphin facilities, many of which house wild caught animals. We were especially concerned that TUI/Thomson continue to sell and profit from these facilities being one of the partners in the 'Year of the Dolphin' initiative.
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Beluga dies at Nagoya Public Aquarium
(Added: 20 June 2008)
Bell, the first beluga whale born in captivity in Japan died on 17 June 2008, less than a month before its fourth birthday. The young whale has had difficulties eating since 2006 and also suffered from continuous fungal infections, however, its condition suddenly changed in the morning of June 17th and it died from intussusception (a blockage of the intestine). Beluga whales, a sub-arctic species continue to be captured from the wild in Russia and exported to countries worldwide to supply the captivity industry.
Another orca death at Seaworld
(Added: 17 June 2008)
Halyn, a two and a half year old killer whale died on Sunday, 15 June 2008 at Seaworld, San Antonio only a few days after trainers began noticing changes in her. Halyn was born at the facility and was the first hand–raised killer whale in the world, after she was rejected by her mother. SeaWorld officials are now waiting on results from the post-mortem examination carried out to determine the cause of death, which are expected in six weeks. This is a second death at the facility in the past eight months, following the death of Taku in October 2007.
Concern over conditions at Turkish facility
(Added: 11 June 2008)
The Marine Connection has been alerted to a facility at Güvercinlik in the Bodrum area of Turkey which has four bottlenose dolphins housed in a small sea pen.
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Another dolphin born at Dutch facility
(Added: 09 June 2008)
Roxy, a 20 year old bottlenose dolphin gave birth to a female calf at Harderwijk yesterday, 08 June, 2008. This is a second birth at the facility in two weeks and the calf is yet to be named in a public contest. Harderwijk dolphinarium has so far bred only two viable females and has been trying to improve their breeding success using artificial insemination.
More captive dolphins in Turkey
(Added: 06 June 2008)
Sealanya, a new facility in Turkey claims to be one of the largest water parks in Europe has six pools which will be used for dolphin shows, dolphin swims and dolphin assisted therapy programmes.
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Dolphin Fund must prove commitment to dolphins
(Added: 28 May 2008)
Dolphin Fund, a partnership of non-governmental organisations, governments and industry, and a supporter of the Year of the Dolphin initiative was founded to facilitate and fund projects for marine mammals and their habitat, but what about those taken from the wild?
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Another dolphin birth in captivity
(Added: 28 May 2008)
On 22 May 2008, Finagain a captive born bottlenose dolphin that was transferred to Harderwijk Dolphinarium in the Netherlands from Sea World Orlando on breeding loan, gave birth. The calf, whose sex is still unknown, will be named in a public contest and seems destined to perform alongside sixteen dolphins and other animals held at the facility.
Dubai Dolphinarium opens
(Added: 22 May 2008)
Dubai Dolphinarium opened its doors yesterday, Wednesday 21st May 2008, with three bottlenose dolphins giving their first public appearance. The dolphins were exported from Turkey where they had been previously transferred from Ukraine's Karadag Biostation.
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New aquarium plans by Aspro
(Added: 10 April 2008)
Aspro Ocio Group, a Spanish operator with the largest number of leisure parks and centres has acquired Newquay based aquarium operator Blue Reef Leisure.
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Dolphinarium alert for North Carolina
(Added: 28 March 2008)
Newly elected mayor for Greensboro in North Carolina, Ms Yvonne Johnson is interested in opening a dolphinarium which will feature a dolphin show, scuba diving and a research centre.
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Jamaican group threatened with legal action
(Added: 12 March 2008)
The consultants responsible for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed Dolphin Cove facility in Hanover, Jamaica have filed a lawsuit against the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), claiming defamation and demanding that a review of the EIA be removed from the JET website.
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Premier puts dolphins before dollars
(Added: 07 March 2008)
The Marine Connection is delighted to report that there will be no capture and export of live dolphins from the Western Provinces of the Solomon Islands. Instead the animals will remain where they belong – in the wild.
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Beluga death 'inconclusive'
(Added: 29 February 2008)
Following the death of beluga whale Marina on 1 December 2007, officials at Georgia Aquarium were expected to release information on the cause of death in February, however despite investigations a spokesperson for the aquarium has stated they can find "no conclusive cause". Marina stopped eating and appeared disorientated before she died and although results from a few tests of samples taken after her death are still to be disclosed, the reason for her death may remain a mystery.
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Busch Corporation cash in on Dubai expansion
(Added: 29 February 2008)
Dubai has a growing greed for the expansion of captive dolphin facilities and it appears that despite international condemnation, the country has no plans to slow down.
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Aruba still considering dolphin facility
(Added: 27 February 2008)
Despite worldwide opposition, De Palm Holdings have not abandoned their plans to build a dolphinarium on De Palm Island off Aruba coast.
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Another beluga whale to face life in captivity
(Added: 15 February 2008)
Quila, a 12 year old beluga whale at Vancouver Aquarium is pregnant. The calf will join its mother and three other beluga whales currently held at the facility.
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Ukraine plan new dolphin facilities
(Added: 30 January 2008)
The Marine Connection has learned that four new marine parks are planned for the Ukraine. The construction of two facilities has already commenced with two more to follow in the Genichesk region of Kherson province.
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Ukrainian protesters oppose illegal trade in dolphins
(Added: 21 January 2008)
On January 16, 2008 animal protection groups protested outside the Ministry for Environmental Protection of Ukraine demanding an immediate stop to illegal trade in Black Sea bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates ponticus), highlighting loopholes in existing legislation and corruption within the Ministry that allows these dolphin captures to continue.
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Killer whale dies at Marineland, Ontario
(Added: 17 January 2008)
On 8 January 2008, Nootka (one of Marineland's four killer whales) died. Captured in Iceland in 1979, she spent more than 27 years in captivity and was believed to be around 40 years old when she died.
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Kerala promotes responsible tourism
(Added: 14 January 2008)
Despite having plans afoot to build an oceanarium in the country which will include a dolphinarium, Kerala Tourism is hosting the “Incredible India" Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations in March 2008.
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Dolphin death at Brookfield Zoo
(Added: 14 January 2008)
Micco, a 6-year-old bottlenose dolphin died Sunday 14th January at Brookfield Zoo, Illinois.
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Yet another incident at Dolphin Academy
(Added: 14 January 2008)
Marine Connection has just received reports of yet another accident which occurred last week, this time involving seven year old Tela, one of the youngest dolphins at the facility.
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Dolphin dies at Miami Seaquarium
(Added: 11 January 2008)
The oldest dolphin at the Miami Seaquarium, and a resident of the park since 1970, died on Tuesday morning, 8th January 2008.
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Dolphin "accident" at Dolphin Academy, Curacao
(Added: 07 January 2008)
Participants at a swim-with-dolphins session at Dolphin Academy in Curacao on 1 January were horrified when a bottlenose dolphin landed on them.
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