The National Aquarium has decided to dump its captive dolphins somewhere far away in the ocean. The Aquarium claims that the move has nothing to do with recent announcements by SeaWorld, and has been in planning for five years. From the FAQ:
Q: Why is the National Aquarium creating a dolphin sanctuary?
A: Our decision to build a sanctuary is rooted in what we believe to be best for the eight dolphins in our care. Over the past five years, we have studied the issue and explored multiple solutions, ranging from rebuilding our existing tanks in a more naturalistic style to moving the dolphins to other accredited facilities. After careful consideration, we've concluded that the best way forward is to create a protected, year-round seaside refuge.
[...] Q: How will the dolphins be moved to the sanctuary? Is it safe for them?
A: The safety of the dolphins is our highest priority. A team of experts is already in place to evaluate all associated risks and provide our colony of dolphins with the safest possible transport and transition to the sanctuary. We are allowing four to five years for this process.
NPR reports that animal rights activists may have played a part in the decision, and that it is unclear whether guests will be able to see any of the dolphins in their new habitat, which is likely to be located as far away as Florida or the Caribbean:
Animal rights activists have staged protests over the dolphins' captivity for years, The New York Times reports. "The aquarium stopped offering shows in which the dolphins performed a few years ago, but tourists and visitors can still watch them in captivity," according to the Times. The aquarium attracts some 1.3 million tourists annually, the Sun reports.
[...] The aquarium envisions a new habitat with a vegetated shoreline featuring mangroves and sea grapes, with "pools that can be customized to meet individual dolphin needs." It's unclear what kind of interaction guests to the habitat will be able to have with the dolphins, though the aquarium says they will "continue to offer our guests a dynamic and engaging experience."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 16 2016, @07:39AM
However you twist and turn it, these things are to these animals what high security prisons are to humans, with the difference that these animals never did anything wrong. It's good we are getting rid of them.
Ideally, we'd get rid of all of them right now and free all those animals, however I am aware that most of these animals would have no chance of survival in the wild. So maybe a phased closing until the last captive animal died of old age and pampering?
(Score: 2) by jmorris on Thursday June 16 2016, @07:44AM
Isn't it great that we are so rich we can afford to build a massive new facility for eight dolphins, who won't be allowed to breed and no more will be otherwise obtained. Yup, good to know all more pressing issues of war, terror, poverty, economic turmoil, etc are all solved.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 16 2016, @07:47AM
I'll notify the National Aquarium's War, Refugee, Poverty, and Hunger departments.
(Score: 2) by jmorris on Thursday June 16 2016, @08:20AM
<sarcasm>Silly me, of course the National Aquarium isn't using tax money for this project. Why would I think such a silly thing, we are close to twenty trillion in debt, of course Congress wouldn't permit such waste.</sarcasm>
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 16 2016, @08:49AM
jmorris = buurrrrrrrrrrp
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 16 2016, @07:33PM
Boy, you really are a loud-mouthed schnook [aqua.org], aren't you?
(Score: 2) by jmorris on Thursday June 16 2016, @11:00PM
Well! Thank you President Reagan?
Not like I live within a thousand miles or anything. Figured anything with "National" in the title would have a hand in the taxpayer's pocket somewhere. If animal rights activists can raise the money on their own, more power to em. Freedom is doing whatever ya want, regardless whether I think it is a good idea; so long as I don't get the bill. Still think it is a bit daft to build a whole new facility for eight critters as a glorified retirement home but whatever floats their boat.