Bjossa, a 23-year-old female whale recently stricken with a respiratory infection, will be shipped to one of four marine parks in the United States within the next six months, aquarium officials said yesterday. These officials say they are not bowing to animal rights advocates who protest against killer whales being kept in captivity, but admit defeat in finding Bjossa a mate.
Bjossa will be leaving after 20 years of service as one of the fixtures that has drawn millions of visitors to the aquarium in downtown Stanley Park. Animal rights activists, who have long attacked the aquarium's display of whales and other animals, said that the popular facility should go further and rule out the display of dolphins as well.
"[The news] doesn't mean [aquarium officials] don't plan to bring other species of dolphins to perform stupid pet tricks for tourists," said Annelise Sorg, a spokeswoman for the Coalition for No Whales in Captivity. "We urge the aquarium to stop the importation of not just killer whales, but all dolphins."
Yesterday's decision means the aquarium will still have a Pacific White-Sided Dolphin and a pair of Beluga Whales on display. The aquarium also has sea lions, harbour seals and sea otters.
Dick Bradshaw, aquarium chairman, said Bjossa would be shipped out because officials had not been able to find her a new companion despite matchmaking efforts that saw them check out every other killer whale on display in the world.
"Bjossa needs a companion. She needs to be with others of her own species," Mr. Bradshaw said during a news conference held on the edge of the main whale pool where Bjossa did easy laps, occasionally splashing the organizers. "Since we're unable to find a suitable companion among the existing population of killer whales on display, and because we promised not to capture from the wild, or cause a whale to be captured, we have decided after 33 years to end the display of live killer whales at the Vancouver Aquarium."
Bjossa, who was caught off the coast of Iceland, has given birth three times while in captivity, but each time the calves have died. The longest-lived calf survived for only a few weeks.
Even as they bid a farewell to Bjossa, aquarium officials sternly defended their right to display whales in order to teach the public about the creatures: "Our decision today is not about whales in aquariums," said Mr. Bradshaw. "Today's decision is about Bjossa and her particular circumstance."
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