Ban on promoting whale and dolphin captive cruelty missing from Queen’s speech
The Queen’s Speech, delivered at Westminster today in the Queen’s absence by Prince Charles, was noteworthy for another absence. The speech sets out the laws the government wants to pass in coming months and should have featured a long awaited Animals Abroad Bill that included a ban on travel companies advertising venues to UK tourists…
Read MoreHigh mercury levels found in slaughtered Japanese dolphin meat
According to reports from Japan, police there are investigating the sale of whale and dolphin meat containing potentially illegal levels of dangerous toxins. Action for Dolphins group say tests on samples of meat sold in the coastal town of Taiji reveal mercury levels up to 25 times higher that safe limits set by the government.…
Read MoreSweden’s last dolphin shows to end
Sweden will become dolphinaria-free following the announcement by Kolmården Zoo in Stockholm that it will be closing its dolphin facility, which currently holds twelve bottlenose dolphins. The Zoo says it wants to focus on the conservation of endangered species and end its 50-year-old era of keeping dolphins. The dolphinarium will remain in operation until the…
Read MoreThe show is over for captive orca Lolita
Lolita, the orca, held at the Miami Seaquarium in Florida since 1970, will no longer perform in shows at the theme park. New managers at the Florida facility have announced that Lolita, also known to many as Tokitae, and thought to be around 56 years old, will be retired from performances in the stadium tank. MS Leisure, a…
Read MoreInfamous whale jail dismantled – could a capture ban be next?
A Russian facility used to house captured whales in cramped conditions has finally been dismantled, hopefully putting an end to anymore cruel activities at the site. Dubbed the ‘whale jail’ after an international outcry, the floating pens in Srednyaya bay in Far East Russia were emptied of whales in late 2019 following public criticism from…
Read MoreMore good news for WDC’s End Captivity tour operators campaign
WDC’s ongoing campaign asking tour operators not to promote cruel whale and dolphin captivity shows received another boost following the news that travel giant Expedia has become the latest company to ban the sale of holidays involving dolphins and whales. In a statement, Expedia announced that ‘attractions and activities that involve performances by, or interactions with…
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