Letter to the Calgary Zoo regarding whale display

August 19, 2004

Calgary Zoo
1300 Zoo Road NE
Calgary, Alberta
T2E 7V6

Attention: Alex Graham, President & CEO

Dear Mr. Graham:

We were recently advised that the Calgary Zoo may be considering an arctic display and that the plans for that display include pools for narwhal and beluga whales.

The practice of keeping whales and dolphins (cetaceans) in captivity has been a matter of significant public concern and controversy in recent years. Albertans in particular have become very aware of the concerns surrounding captive cetaceans because of the enormous controversy generated by the keeping of dolphins at the West Edmonton Mall.

As I am sure you are aware, it is not possible to recreate the ocean habitat of these highly complex, wide-ranging animals, nor provide them with an environment that satisfies all of their biological and behavioural needs. In the wild, these animals range over expansive areas of ocean and establish very complex, often lifelong, social bonds and groupings. We believe they are among the poorest candidates for captivity.

You may be interested to know that Zoocheck Canada commissioned a professional public opinion survey company to assess the perceptions of Canadians regarding the capture, import and display of whales and dolphins in Canada. The first phase of that survey was conducted in British Columbia and revealed among other things that:

• 71.1% of respondents polled to date feel that the physical and behavioural needs of whales and dolphins cannot be met in captivity;
• 68% feel it is not appropriate to keep whales and dolphins in captivity; and
• 58.3% will support laws that will ban the commercial use of captive whales and dolphins in Canada.

The Vancouver Aquarium put 6 narwhals on display in 1970 and all died within 3 months of capture. Some beluga whales survive for longer periods but they do so in conditions that bear no resemblance to what they would experience in nature.

We, the undersigned, representing more than 15 million supporters worldwide, urge you to abandon any plans to bring whales or dolphins into the Calgary Zoo, and we do so for the following reasons:

• Confining cetaceans is contrary to their welfare;
• The keeping of narwhal and beluga whales in captivity has no legitimate conservation value;
• The display of whales in captivity has little, if any, legitimate educational value and may present a distorted view of these animals to the visiting public; and
• The polling clearly shows that the majority of Canadians are concerned about the welfare and conservation of wildlife, and are generally opposed to the keeping of whales in captivity.

Thank you for considering the points we have raised. We look forward to your quick response.

Sincerely,
Julie Woodyer

On behalf of:

• Zoocheck Canada
• World Society for the Protection of Animals - International
• Humane Society of the United States
• Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
• Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society - International
• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - UK
• Born Free Foundation - International
• International Federation of Animal Welfare - International
• Irish Seal Sanctuary - Ireland
• Voice for Animals - Edmonton, Alberta
• Fauna Foundation - Montreal, Quebec
• New York Whale and Dolphin Action League - USA
• Niagara Action for Animals - Canada
• Cetacean Society International
• Animalsiti Italiani - Italy
• Advocates for Animal Rights - Bahamas
• Reseau-Cetaces - France
• One Voice - France
• Care For The Wild International
• Protect our Dolphins - South Africa
• Antigua Barbuda Independent Tourism Promotion Corp.
• Antigua West Indies
• Committee for a dolphinarium-free Belguim
• Marine Connection - United Kingdom
• Iruka & Kujira action Network - Japan
• Marine Mammal Connection Society - USA
• Finns for the Whales Society - Finland
• Helsinki Humane Society - Finland
• Showing Animals Respect and Kindness - USA
• Humane Society of Canada
• Elsa Nature Conservancy - Japan
• Animal Rights Hawaii
• Free Willy Keiko Foundation
• Earth Island Institute, International Marine Mammal Project - USA
• Project Thursday's Child - USA
• The Dolphin Project - USA
• Nature Trust - Malta
• Animal Welfare Institute - USA
• Animal Alliance of Canada
• Captive Dolphin Awareness Foundation - USA
• The Responsible Animal Care Society - Canada
• Winnipeg Humane Society
• Calgary Animal Rights Coalition
• International Wildlife Coalition - International
• Captive Animals Protection Society - UK
• World Whale Police
• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
• Orca Network - USA
• Vancouver Humane Society
• Australians for Animals
• OceanCare - Switzerland
• Nova Scotia Humane Society
• London Animal Alliance - London, Ontario
• Animal Outreach - Ontario
• Animal Protection Institute - USA
• Indonesian Rescue Centre
• Marin County Humane Society - California
• The Fund for Animals
• Care for the Wild International