New report documents escalating exploitation of captive whales and dolphins in China
A worrying new publication has exposed the scale of whale and dolphin exploitation across theme parks in China.
Beijing Aquarium dolphins (c) Matthew Stinson, Flickr creative commons
Entitled Ocean Theme Parks: China’s Growing Captive Cetacean Industry (2019-2024), the report, which is the third in the series compiled by the China Cetacean Alliance of which Born Free is a longstanding member, reveals that there are 101 captive cetacean facilities in operation across China, with a further 11 under construction.
Beluga whales at Polarland, Harbin (c) Brian Jeffery Beggerly, Flickr creative commons
These facilities hold an estimated 1,307 individual animals belonging to 15 species of cetaceans, the most common being bottlenose dolphins and beluga whales. Most have been captured from the wild, although increasing numbers are being bred in captivity in China.
Commenting on the findings, Born Free’s Head of Policy Dr Mark Jones said: “Extensive research and experience has clearly demonstrated that whales and dolphins suffer greatly in captivity. It is impossible to provide for these highly intelligent, socially complex and wide-ranging animals in concrete tanks where their movements are severely restricted, and where they are forced to perform unnatural and demeaning tricks for the sake of public entertainment. The public in many countries are turning away from this grotesque form of ‘entertainment’, and some governments have put in place measures to close down facilities that keep captive cetaceans. Sadly, China is clearly bucking this trend. We urge the Chinese authorities to take action to stem the growth of this egregious industry, and to phase out the keeping of these sensitive, intelligent animals for human entertainment.”
The report offers a number of recommendations. These include banning direct animal interaction with members of the public, ending the importation and breeding of further cetaceans for captive use, and ensuring that staff and veterinarians have the appropriate skills and expertise to care for the existing animals. The ultimate aim is to persuade the authorities in China of the need to phase out the keeping and display of captive cetaceans at ocean theme parks altogether.
Born Free fully endorses the report and its recommendations, and will continue to campaign alongside like-minded organisations for an end to cetacean captivity across the world.