On June 10, 2019, Canada’s House of Commons voted to pass Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. Enactment bans the trade, possession, capture, breeding, and captivity of cetaceans – whales, dolphins, and porpoises – for entertainment.
In the wild, whales and dolphins travel each day through miles of open ocean and live in family groups that can span generations. By contrast, life in captivity is one of close confinement, isolation, and stress in cramped tanks, which stifle the animals’ natural instincts and behavior. This is especially true in cases where the animals are forced to perform tricks, but even the “best” captive conditions are inadequate and no substitute for life in the wild. Born Free USA has worked for years to keep cetaceans out of captivity and has has backed Bill S-203 since it was first introduced in 2015.
Born Free USA celebrates the passage of S-203 – a true victory for wildlife!