Facilities urged to strengthen welfare programs

There is a long tradition of aquarium shows, where captive marine mammals are put on display for audiences across the world. However, experts are voicing concerns about the practice of capturing marine mammals and using them for entertainment, claiming that the performances impose great stress on the animals involved.

Commercial motives have seen a rising number of marine mammals being captured or raised in captivity, while some aquariums have established breeding centers to ensure that animals will give birth to the next generation of performers, according to Zheng Yu, a campaign manager with World Animal Protection, an NGO devoted to improving the conditions of captive animals.

A chain has been formed whereby marine mammals are seized, then transported and finally imprisoned in small pools in aquariums. Each step puts the animals in danger, Zheng said.