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Aquarium Has Been Hiding Two Captured Orcas in Temporary Tanks For Ten Months

October 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

In December 2013, the Russian company VDNKh Park packed two killer whales into crates at the East end of the country and flew them 10 hours to Moscow to be displayed in an aquarium being built in the city.

In 2012, Namia is transported after being captured(photo: Russianorca.com)

In 2012, Namia is transported after being captured (photo: Russianorca.com)

More than 10 months later, the five and seven year old orcas are languishing in a temporary holding tank that are only 82 feet in diameter because the aquarium’s orca enclosure is still under construction and isn’t expected to be completed until early 2015. According to the Moscow Times, Russian police have refused to open a case on behalf of the orcas because the tank doesn’t meet the country’s definition of cruelty to animals.

Rusty temporary holding tank

Rusty temporary holding tank

Inflatable bubble covers tanks

Inflatable bubble covers tanks

The Russian animal rights group VITA says that guards and customers of a nearby exhibition center have, for months, reported “horrible sounds” and “cries” of killer whales. In spite of substantive evidence and a police report stating that the orcas are being held at this location, the aquarium has denied their presence — until yesterday, when video was released. Now, they are stating that the orcas were held secretly to that Muscovites would be surprised when they arrived at the aquarium.

The Director of the Far East Orca Russia Project (FEROP) says that holding killer whales in these circumstances is “completely abnormal” and that “we have no setting in Russia for keeping killer whales in captivity.” Other experts say that holding orcas captive can shorten their life and make them dangerous, as demonstrated in the documentary film Blackfish.

Your Turn

In light of the fact that an orca enclosure is being built at the new Moscow aquarium, Russia isn’t going to return these animals to their pod in the wild unless the world unites behind these orcas. Please sign the Take Part petition and PETA’s form letter to the Russian Ambassador to the UK asking for the orcas to be released back into the wild.

For the past 44 years, an orca named Lolita has been held captive at the Miami Seaquarium in a 60′ by 80′ pool, the smallest orca enclosure in the United States. For the first ten years of her captivity, Lolita had an orca companion named Hugo. In 1980, Hugo repeatedly smashed his head against the wall until he died. Lolita has been alone for 34 years.

Seaquarium-Lolita

Lolita has lived in a small, barren tank for 44 years

A massive march to free Lolita and return her to her to the wild will take place next to the Seaquarium on January 17th. Please share this information with your friends in Florida.


Filed under: Entertainment, WIldlife
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Activists Pressure Singapore Resort to Free Dolphins After Four Deaths

June 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

After the deaths of four captive dolphins used in a “swim with dolphin” concession at the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in Singapore, local animal rights groups are demanding that the casino free the remaining 23 dolphins who kidnapped from the South Pacific. In response to the demands, RWS, which had revenues of $2.3 billion in 2013, defends the use of dolphins, saying “Well-run zoological facilities provide strong and inspiring messages to visitors and can make a tangible difference to animal conservation.”

Photo credit: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society

News & Opinion

Holding wild animals captive for entertainment is unspeakably cruel. The Cove, a film that documents the barbaric round up of wild dolphins in Japan, exposed the world to the world to an annual atrocity that had been hidden from public view.  As more people learn about the dolphin round up and their life of deprivation in tanks, pressure to close these concessions will mount.  Dolphins, who are among the most intelligent animals on the planet, have committed suicide in captivity.  We must continue to fight until every imprisoned dolphin is free.  To find out how you can help, please visit The Cove.


Filed under: Entertainment
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Japanese Newspaper Condemns Dolphin Roundup & Slaughter in Taiji

February 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

During the 2013 dolphin hunting season in Taiji, Japan, 834 dolphins were killed and 164 taken captive for aquariums and swim with dolphin concessions. In a ground-breaking editorial, The Japan Times calls for an end to the “herding, capturing and slaughtering of dolphins” in Taiji, challenging the government’s claims that the practice is a “tradition” that “adheres to the principles of the law.”

The cove in Taiji, Japan

Slaughter in the Cove

News & Opinion

Worldwide outrage, pressure from the U.S. Government, increased activism and resistance from within Japan will eventually lead to an end to the dolphin hunt. In the meantime, please encourage the people in your network to rent The Cove and to boycott aquariums and “swim with dolphin” concessions.


Filed under: Entertainment, WIldlife
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