VANCOUVER AQUARIUM: FREE "DAISY"

UPDATE July 29, 2009


Re: Daisy Sentenced to Life in Aquarium Prison

The Harbour porpoise, Daisy, who has been moved to the Vancouver Aquarium will spend the rest of her life in an aquarium prison if she survives. This inhumane move will also open the door for the captivity of other Harbour Porpoises as a new aquarium attraction.

It was apparent from the beginning that the Aquarium had no intention to release her, stated Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce Founder, They were teaching her to perform tricks not rehabilitating her for release. Instead of being rewarded with freedom for her struggle to survive, she is being punished by being forced to be an aquarium circus performer. The greatest threat to porpoises is the human predators exploiting them as a first North American show.

Background
On May 1, 2009 Lifeforce wrote to the Vancouver Aquariums veterinarian and DFO proposing that Daisy be immediately removed to a sea pen at their research station for a study of porpoise behaviour, rehabilitation and release. She would be introduced to foraging for fish, readapt to natural life and rejoin porpoises in the wild. Daisy could provide rehabbers and others with a greater insight into Harbour porpoise behaviour and more data about releasing marine mammals. This is consistent with stated Aquarium goals to use untapped resources such as the Greater Use of Rehabilitation and Display Animals for research (Marine Mammals in the Lab: Tools for Conservation and Science, September 2007). Most importantly Daisy would be treated more humanely. Failure to do so will lose a rare chance for Daisy and science itself.

This porpoise is a fighter. Although she was cruelly confined for months, she has beaten the odds to survive and be free. She is a good candidate for release options. It was once an Aquarium "fact" that if a human touches a seal pup the mom would not take her back. However this was proven to be incorrect. The Vancouver Aquariums has made many mistakes (see the Lifeforce video Rehab 101 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONDN0I2qwSk). Many have died in the hands of these self-proclaimed experts and it is luck if any survive.

Hamilton added, There are still many unknowns about marine species. It is not a proven scientific fact that a young porpoise cannot be rehabbed for release. It is not a proven fact that she is better off in captivity and captivity would not kill her. There are examples of successful Harbour Porpoise releases.

See also:
Dolphin Freedom NOT Captivity!
http://www.lifeforcefoundation.org/ecotv_play.php?id=38

For further information: Peter Hamilton lifeforcesociety@hotmail.com

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Vancouver
• Aquarium
• Free
• Daisy
• release
• freedom
• Lifeforce
• dolphin
• whales
• porpoise
• willy
• captivity
• ecology
• prisons

[LifeforceEcology]

We have received a couple of emails against our previous rehab in a sea pen plan. To make it clear we never said to dump her in the ocean. Read the plan below.

[LifeforceEcology]

4. What about predators?

Well we all could face danger but the goal of rehab programs is to release the injured animals. Those seal pups and others could face predators but both animals and humans would choose to live free - not in an aquarium prison.

[LifeforceEcology]

cont.

2. She has been in the wild for approx. 2 months. After being reintroduced to live fish she would go to a sea pen so she can acclimatize to sea conditions and build up her strength. The gate of the pen would then be left open. It is quite likely that she will then join up with other Harbour porpoises.

3. Is she too young? No.

She is inherently wild. Look at the newborn seal pups picked up off beaches. After months in rehab they are successfully released.

[LifeforceEcology]

A few people missed the point of Lifeforce campaign to "Free Daisy". Here's some points:

1. It appeared that rehab was directed at keeping her in captivity not release.Lifeforce has provided the data and support to the government for Freedom Not Captivity.

[LifeforceEcology]

Lifeforce has contacted the government to get an update. As soon as we get any news we will post it.

For Freedom!

[LifeforceEcology]

Lifeforce has asked for an update and we will post the information as soon as we receive it. So keep those emails going to Minister Gail Shea for Daisy's Freedom Not Captivity!