Many people and groups are opposing the Vancouver Aquarium’s proposed expansion, but I’m not one of them. I don’t agree that more chubby white whales and perky dolphins need to be confined to pools that are still far too small for them, but considering the non-profit group is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a public relations campaign it’s pretty much a safe bet they are going to get their way. It’s an ugly fact that dollars influence decisions, and since the non-profit aquarium has very deep pockets we may as well prepare ourselves for losing some old trees to make room for more exhibits.

Supporters of the aquarium, as well as those with vested financial interests claim the whales and dolphins have plenty of room and are well cared for. Scientifically speaking, the animals may be fed nutritious meals and be kept in clean water, but the concrete, steel and glass of captivity can’t even come close to replicating the home provided by nature. It’s bad enough to put a fish in a bowl and watch it pathetically swim in circles as it tries to combat the mind-numbing boredom of captivity, but how big of a tank do you need to adequately entertain a highly intelligent mammal that speedily swims for miles at a time? They say the new dolphin tank will be sufficient, but you’re still not going to see one of Flipper’s long lost cousins circling fast enough to get a speeding ticket.

Personally, I think we should be protecting the existing natural environment instead of trying to replicate it, but I grudgingly support the plan to build a beaver exhibit. Our national animal is definitely much better off in his natural surroundings, but if you consider how quick most municipal councils are to endorse lethal trapping, being uprooted to the aquarium is like being granted a death row pardon. Mr. Beaver will have to put up with living in cramped quarters and the tension of knowing he will only be around as long as he’s profitable, but it’s slightly better than being painfully drowned in a Conibear trap.

If Mr. Beaver is lucky, a spouse will be captured for him, and if things go according to the revenue plan he’ll fancy his bride and start his own little big-toothed family. Baby beavers are absolutely adorable and will attract a lot of visitors, but we have to make sure the dolphins and whales don’t see how happy Mr. Beaver is and try to follow his lead. Seven babies have been born at the aquarium, but regardless of how much medical attention they receive, all but one has died. Scientists are supposed to be highly intelligent, but how many times do they have to see a baby perish before they finally admit that cetaceans don’t do well in captivity?

If the Vancouver Aquarium wanted to enhance and enlarge the enclosures of the current animals, I would pat them on the back and give my support, but the ugly truth is that it plans on maneuvering around existing bylaws and importing more whales and dolphins to attract more visitors. The only democratic way to determine if the majority of people agree with having marine mammals and other wildlife kept in captivity is to have the Vancouver Park Board hold a public referendum, which was previously approved to be completed during the 2008 civic election. The aquarium can’t take a chance of people saying no, especially considering a public referendum shut down the Stanley Park zoo and there are millions of dollars of aquarium revenue at stake, so it’s spending buckets of money to obfuscate the true issues and overturn past agreements.

It really stinks when citizens are denied the right to democratically voice their opinion and actually be heard, but we’re dealing with the aquarium; it has always smelled fishy.