Dolphins in shopping mall for 15 years
Archive - August 2000

Dolphins are kept in captivity for our 'entertainment'.

UPDATE: Maria, a 19 year old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, has died from 'undetermined causes' at the West Edmonton Mall.

In 1985, 4 dolphins swimming freely in Charlotte Harbour off the coast of Florida, were captured by Jay Sweeney and sold to West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada. Another 3 dolphins are recorded by the US authority National Marine Fisheries Service as having been killed by the capture operation.

The 4 survivors, known by their human masters as Gary, Howard, Mavis and Maria have involuntarily entertained humans ever since. At the time of capture, their estimated age was between 2-4 years, possibly still suckling their mother's milk.

There are numerous welfare problems associated with these captive dolphins:

• They live in a small, featureless, concrete tank.
• Both females have given birth twice, all 4 calves died at birth or shortly afterwards.
• Lack of supervision results in coins and other garbage being thrown into the pool by thoughtless people, and ingested by the dolphins. This requires the dolphins to be medically examined and x-rayed on a regular basis.
• The water in their pool is highly chlorinated water.
• Skin and eye problems.
• The dolphins are forced to perform to demand in shows 4 times daily, using 'positive re-enforcement' (extra food), if they do not obey, they are denied food.
• The dolphins are unable to follow basic instincts such as foraging, their diet consists of previously frozen fish and vitamins.
• Use of the dolphin's primary function is denied the ability to use echo-location, this is essential for well-being, travel, foraging and communication, all of which is impossible in these confined conditions.
• The dolphins show signs of stress due to their captivity, such as repetitive behavior and injury from pool companions.

Free The Edmonton Mall Dolphins - Welcome Home Campaign is seeking a belated justice for Gary, Howard, Mavis and Maria. Before they die in the mall, they want to retire them to a natural sea pen or if the dolphins prove suitable, then a program of complete release. The rehabilitation plan is similar to other projects, which have given freedom and dignity back to other captive dolphins.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

	Please write to West Edmonton Mall, #2472, 8882-170 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5T 4M2.
	Email Mark Brown, Director of Sales at mbrown@westedmontonmall.com, Gary Hanson, General Manager at gm@westedmontonmall.com and Travis Reynolds, Attractions Marketing Manager at treynolds@westedmontonmall.com.
	You can also tell the Mayor of Edmonton, Bill Smith, that you do not intend to visit the Mall or Edmonton: Write to Office of The Mayor, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,T5J 2R7.
	Become a CAPS supporter.