In good news for captive orcas, this week lawmakers in Ontario introduced legislation that will make their confinement illegal, in addition other measures that will improve standards of care for other marine mammals.
The proposed legislation would amend the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to ban the acquisition and breeding of orcas effective immediately, and will bring potential fine of up to $60,000 and or two years in prison for violators on the first conviction.
It will also bring changes to the current standards of care for other marine mammals that will improve social groupings, water quality and noise levels, how they're handled and displayed and the size of enclosures they're kept in. Additionally, it would also require setting up independent Animal Welfare Committees at every facility, along with a veterinarian is present, where they’re kept to ensure oversight.
Please sign the petition urging Ontario's lawmakers to support this legislation and end captivity for orcas for good.
As someone who is concerned with animal welfare and the fate of captive marine mammals, I was thrilled to learn that Ontario is moving forward with legislation that will make orca captivity illegal, in addition to improving standards of care for other marine mammals.
Following the release of Blackfish and other information, including the Toronto Star's scathing series of exposés on Marineland, the public has grown increasingly concerned with the inherent cruelty and other problems associated with confining orcas and other marine mammals to captivity.
Despite industry claims that continuing the practice benefits conservation and education, these social and intelligent animals continue to suffer from continued exploitation that is for nothing more than profit. We now know enough to be sure there is nothing about captivity that benefits either them or us.
While it's heartbreaking to know that Kiska, Canada's only captive orca will be excluded from these changes and denied justice, it will at least mean no others of her kind ever have to suffer her fate.
I sincerely hope that Ontario will become a leader and act to protect orcas from a life in captivity and to improve the living conditions for other captive animals.
