KILLS
Over 5,500 cetaceans have died in captivity since records
began. There are still an estimated 2,200 captive dolphins,
51 orcas and nearly 200 beluga whales being kept for use as
entertainment for profit.
There is still a highly lucrative trade in wild caught marine mammals for display and for captive breeding programmes.
In the last year alone, as well as over 1,700 dolphins killed in the dolphin drives, over 400 were captured in Taiji, Japan to
be trained for a life in captivity. They are being sold on the open market to marine parks in places like Egypt, China, Thailand, Korea, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Taiwan, the Philippines, Iran and Turkey.
18 wild caught beluga whales are still being held in Russia awaiting possible transport into the USA after an application for
import by the Georgia
Aquarium, Sea World and
the Shedd and Mystic
Aquariums.
Russian hunters have also
recently captured seven
wild orcas – the first for ten
years. Most are reported to
be destined for Russian or
Chinese marine parks.
World records—broke one in 2008, took one
away in 2014!
The same year Earthrace became a world record holder,
Guinness World Records also recognised Delphinus Xcaret
in Mexico as having achieved the most dolphins born in a
year in a single facility.
The marine park claimed 11 survived that year, proudly proclaiming “the survival rate in captivity is around 60% and even less
in freedom”.
Over a year ago, Earthrace contacted Guinness disputing
Xcaret’s claim on the world record on animal welfare and
accuracy grounds
Finally, after almost 12 months, Guinness World Records
confirmed that it had officially rescinded Xcaret’s record
holder status. However, the facility continues to advertise
itself as a world record holder on its website and in press
materials.
Despite Earthrace actually being a legitimate world record
holder, to date we’ve been unable to confirm that Guinness
are prepared to act any further in forcing Xcaret to stop
using false information to promote ticket sales.
You can help us keep the pressure up by sending an
email to Guinness.
Don’t buy a ticket to a marine mammal show, or to swim with dolphins or other marine mammals in captivity
If you want to see whales and dolphins, see them in the wild with a reputable company that follows the rules
Watch The Cove; Blackfish; Keiko, the untold story; and read Death at SeaWorld
Look out for events, protests, petitions and other actions that you can get involved in. Remember, just because
you may not have captive cetaceans on your doorstep, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
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