Calgary Zoo shelve beluga whale plans

The Marine Connection is pleased to announce that the Calgary Zoo will remain beluga free for the foreseeable future, after plans to house these marine mammals was removed as a cost-cutting measure to the new expansion project.

In an effort to bring its expansion costs closer to the original $120 million price tag, the zoo has put plans to build a beluga exhibit, restaurant and banquet facilities on hold indefinitely, however the zoo still plans to proceed with other parts of the Arctic Shores exhibit, which will include polar bears, with construction due to begin in 2009. It also wants to exhibit penguins and sea otters, if it is successful in obtaining a federal government grant.

Judith Scott, Campaigns Officer states: “Although the reason for the zoos decision not to hold beluga whales is financially based and does not address the argument against keeping these animals in captivity, we are delighted at the decision not to build this addition to its facility and we will continue to support the work of colleagues in Canada to make this permanent as there is no justification for keeping belugas in captivity. These whales have evolved over thousands of years to live in the high Arctic, and this unique environment can never be adequately recreated in a captive facility. The Marine Connection is concerned that the zoo still plan to keep polar bears as we also believe they are totally unsuited to captivity, often exhibiting signs of severe stress and boredom living in an exhibit far removed from their natural environment.”