The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta has vowed to no longer accept dolphins or whales captured in the wild, ending their partnership with Russia.
The aquarium announced the decision days after the release of a documentary, Born To Be Free, that exposes the cruel nature of keeping beluga whales captive, with a focus on Russia. However, it has been revealed that the aquarium has been unsuccessful legally in transporting captured whales, which are in holding tanks, into their facility.
The whales, unfortunately, are in a state of limbo as they still belong to Russia, but the aquarium has taken responsibility for them.
Aquarium Chairman and CEO Michael Leven stated that the aquarium is searching for suitable facilities for eight whales: “We’ve tried very hard to get these animals housed somewhere in the world. We just felt that we had a moral and ethical responsibility to find them a place.”
The aquarium is said to also be making this move in anticipation of the documentary’s release in the U.S. The film features 15 belugas stolen from the coast in Russia between 2006 and 2011. The documentary exposes the insufficient care provided to the whales, and the film is expected to make an impact similar to the one made by Blackfish, which has aquarium officials concerned.
“You’re going to see more and more of this happening,” said Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist with the Animal Welfare Institute. “You see the National Aquarium, deciding to retire eight dolphins, and SeaWorld ending its orca breeding program.”
Those decisions are a sign that the work and pressure of animal welfare groups are getting results. The international awareness about this issues is raising and animal conditions will improve as consequence.
Read more about OIPA International campaign against acquarius and dolphinariums, CLICK HERE.
