National Aquarium to create first of its kind dolphin sanctuary

BALTIMORE, Md. (WBFF) - On Tuesday Baltimore's National Aquarium announced it will create a first-of-it-kind seaside dolphin sanctuary for its Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in a move that animal welfare advocates say recognizes the needs, intelligence and sensitivity of the species.

The Aquarium, which is part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), will be working with federal and state agencies to relocate the dolphins and help them adapt to a new seaside environment. The sanctuary would be the first of its kind, according the National Aquarium, and is expected to be built by the end of 2020. This sanctuary would create "a new option for how dolphins can thrive in human care."

Kris Vehrs, Interim President & CEO of AZA, says, "Every member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums must make animal welfare decisions appropriate for the animals in its care. National Aquarium has been researching the possibility of moving the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in its care to a seaside location and is now ready to take the next step."

Meanwhile PETA's Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman says, "PETA today applauds the National Aquarium for making the decision to let the dolphins out of its tanks and put them back into the ocean where they belong. The National Aquarium's welcome move recognizes that the needs of intelligent, sensitive, far-ranging dolphins simply can't be met in captivity. This spells the beginning of the end for dolphin captivity and the start of an age in which SeaWorld, the Miami Seaquarium, and other marine parks reject excuses not to retire long-suffering captive dolphinsincluding orcasto sanctuaries."

Reiman was previously arrested, according to PETA, in the 1990s for protesting at the aquarium.

"Although this decision is about our group of dolphins, it is every bit as much about our humanity; for the way a society treats the animals with whom it shares this planet speaks volumes about us," says John Racanelli, National Aquarium CEO.

"We now know more about dolphins and their care, and we believe that the National Aquarium is uniquely positioned to use that knowledge to implement positive change," says Racanelli. "This is the right time to move forward with the dolphin sanctuary."

Conversations about alternate options for dolphin care began about five years ago between the Aquarium and its board of directors.

"We've evaluated this for five years and have decided that this is the right decision for the dolphins, and, thus, for our organization," says Aquarium board member Colleen Dilenschneider

Options the Aquarium considered included rebuilding the exsiting 25-year-old Marine Mammal Pavilion in a more naturalistic style and moving the dolphins to other accredited facilities. Instead, the board voted to create a protected, year-round seaside refuge that the Aquarium's staff could take care of while continuing to interact with the dolphins.

According to a release from the Aquarium, "The work effort defines the sanctuary not just as a place, but also a set of corresponding practices and principles."

Experts were selected to evaluate and identify a site which will be chosen based on the following criteria:

-Ability to provide lifetime customized care for each dolphin

-Outdoor location with natural sea water, with more space and depth than current facility

-Tropical or sub-tropical climate

-Natural stimulus for the dolphins, such as fish and aquatic plants

"As we look at the future of the dolphins in our care, we are working very hard to provide them the best possible place to live out their years," says Tom Robinson, National Aquarium board chair.

"The idea of providing sanctuaries for elephants, chimpanzees, big cats-and now dolphins-is a sign of a maturing ethic of caring unthinkable in past millennia, centuries and even decades," adds Sylvia Earle, marine biologist, explorer and author.

In order to develop the dolphin sanctuary, the Aquarium is seeking donations. To learn more, click here.