Vancouver Aquarium Vancouver Aquarium News 2016-2017

wensleydale said:
What was the cause of his initial stranding? Was he always an unhealthy animal?
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an article from 2012: Rescued harbour porpoise to live at Vancouver Aquarium - British Columbia - CBC News
The five week-old male harbour porpoise was found on a beach in Horseshoe Bay last September.

"The harbour porpoise, later named Jack, was weak, malnourished, and dehydrated when found," said aquarium general manager Clint Wright.

"Once the animal was admitted to the Aquarium’s hospital, the team provided emergency treatment and immediately placed him under 24-hour care and monitoring."

Staff and volunteers at the rescue centre nursed the porpoise back to health, eventually helping him swim again with the aid of a floatation device in a unique physiotherapy program.

...

Jack was moved to the aquarium after being deemed non-releasable by Fisheries and Oceans Canada because he was rescued at a neonatal age and has not developed the necessary skills that would enable him to survive in the wild.

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Qila, the aquariums 21 year old Beluga, and the first to be captive bred in Canada, has very sadly passed away :(

The cause of death is not known at this time, however necropsy results should be released by the aquarium shortly.
 
A god damn shame and massive tragedy for the aquarium. This is honestly the saddest Canadian zoological event in the past couple of years.

Luckily, it is not the end of their beluga program. They have two of their original wild caught whales still on loan in the US (Imaq and Allua), along with several offspring they have ownership of from their loaned males Imaq and Nanuq. While I'm certain they won't be receiving any more belugas any time soon (with the construction of the new beluga habitat they will most likely just move Chester and Helen into the beluga pool so they can start construction of the new beluga habitat in its place), I am certain this will not be the end of their program.
 
It is a sad event for the animals and all the people involved. But I hope they stop keeping them. Those highly sociable and intelligent animals don't belong in captivity. We as a terrestrial animal can hardly grasp what they really need concerning space. It was a sad sight seeing them swim in circles endlessly.
 
Daniel said:
It is a sad event for the animals and all the people involved. But I hope they stop keeping them. Those highly sociable and intelligent animals don't belong in captivity. We as a terrestrial animal can hardly grasp what they really need concerning space. It was a sad sight seeing them swim in circles endlessly.
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Cetaceans are not nearly as intelligent as some people would make them out to be.

Dolphins: Adorable, Playful, Not As Smart As You Might Think

http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/679958
 
There should be some changes coming for the scarlet ibises. One of the males is to leave for Winnipeg while picking up a Winnipeg male for breeding. Two females will also arrive from Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls. All of this is being done to increase breeding.
 
The rescue center is caring for a rare visitor, a seven month old male northern fur seal pup. He is only the second northern fur seal cared for by the center since the first arrived in 1960. While severely emaciated the pup is starting to do well enough they will be performing more extensive exams soon. Little guy looks rather rough. Hope he pulls through.

Rescued northern fur seal pup getting care at Vancouver Aquarium
 
TZFan said:
Belugas will be returning on a non breeding basis after the exhibit is renovated in 2019 but the aquarium also said they will only be around until 2029 when they will be phased out. Why waste the money then?

Aquarium to bring back belugas, but will close display by 2029
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It is bizarre that the aquarium would invest millions of dollars in an expansion of the beluga habitat and bring the species back in 2019 only to take the animals off public display in 2029. However, I think that I have figured out the reason for the seemingly odd decision.

The aquarium is situated inside the 1,000 acre Stanley Park and the facility's current lease with the Vancouver Park Board ends in 2029. It cannot be a coincidence that the beluga whale program will be phased out in the same year...as due to the high level of opposition to whales in captivity it might be difficult for Vancouver Aquarium to renew its lease with whales still on display.
 
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