We are all mourning the fact that at least 8 more whales and dolphins will be brought into the Vancouver Aquarium after the Vancouver Park Board gave their approval to the expansion plans on Monday night. The Park Board also added another exception/loophole to the existing dolphin bylaw which will make it easier for the aquarium to bring in more whales and dolphins when the construction is finished. It is very sad when people cannot realize the inherent cruelty of keeping large, intelligent, sentient beings in concrete pools in this day and age.

The expansion will also include a new maternity pool so that the aquarium can try to supply itself and other aquariums around the world with a never ending supply of captive beings, to the detriment of the mothers.

The expansion plans also include bringing in more zoo animals for display such as beavers and seabirds. I do not understand how the park board can justify giving away 1.5 acres of public park land. Of course, now the aquarium will be asking the federal and provincial governments to supply the money for the $80 million dollar expansion plans. It is very disgusting.

Thank you to all who wrote letters to the park board and to those who gave speeches at the park board meeting. Your efforts are appreciated.

Sincerely,

Kelly Bunting
No Whales in Captivity