Marine sanctuaries under study: for a decent retreat of captive cetaceans

The future of captive cetaceans in question

What are the prospects after deprivation of liberty and torture? What are the alternatives to offer to cetaceans currently prisoners and who are unable to adapt to the wildlife? These issues that concern us arise on an international scale. Other countries also want to end once and for all this slavery of marine mammals. Many experts are working to create sanctuaries to welcome them.

One Voice in Halifax

On October 28th and 29th, Doctor Pierre Gallego, marine mammal veterinarian, participated for One Voice in the Working Group on Cetacean Sanctuaries held in Halifax, Canada. This workshop, which took place as part of the biennial conference of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM), brought together leading conservation experts. They were able to reflect together and share information, especially about three ambitious projects.

Three marine sanctuaries for cetaceans well underway

• The Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) was introduced by Doctor Lori Marino, a specialist in neurobiology and cetacean behaviour, with whom One Voice often works. This sanctuary will serve both as a retreat for Orcas and belugas from captivity, and as a centre of intervention for potential stranding’s, ensuring of course a complete separation between ex-captives and animals to be rehabilitated in order to avoid any risk of contagion. The choice of the final site is not yet finalized but several potentially suitable areas are being studied along the US and Canadian coastlines.
• The Baltimore National Dolphin Sanctuary, initiated by the Baltimore National Aquarium, is designed to accommodate the 8 dolphins from this American aquarium in a natural environment and much larger than their current pools. It should also accommodate 12 additional dolphins. This sanctuary, which will probably be located in the Florida Keys or the Caribbean, will also have the task of treating stranded individuals with, again, all the necessary health precautions.
• The Beluga Sanctuary Project consists of the organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) and Merlin Entertainment, they are intending to house beluga whales from a recent Chinese water park acquired by the operator Merlin. The location of this sanctuary remains to be determined, perhaps in Icelandic waters. Once the site is established, it can also collect belugas from other institutions.

One Voice more than ever mobilized for the release of captive cetaceans

One Voice is delighted by these constructive exchanges between specialists and the progress of these three projects. We are working to ensure that they take shape quickly and become the future for cetaceans that are currently captive in France. After having suffered so much, they finally have the right to a peaceful retreat in an environment close to their natural environment … The sea!