WDC joins alliance to halt growth of Chinese captive dolphin facilities
WDC has joined with international conservation and protection organisations, Hong Kong Conservation Society and Animal Welfare Institute in an effort to prevent the worrying growth in whale and dolphin captivity in China.
The China Cetacean Alliance will raise awareness of the negative welfare issues caused through the wild capture and subsequent captivity of whales and dolphins (cetaceans) for ocean parks in mainland China.
The number of ocean parks in mainland China is developing rapidly, and the number of wild caught cetaceans held captive within these facilities continues to increase. Alliance members have documented the arrival of over 250 wild caught cetaceans into 26 ocean parks since 2010, and many dolphins are supplied from the cruel drive hunts that take place in Japan.
The Alliance has now commissioned further investigation into the ocean park industry in mainland China. To date, 10 ocean parks have been investigated.
The results of the investigation are due to be published in mid-2015 and will be used as part of a wider public awareness campaign to inform the Chinese public about the welfare concerns of capturing whales and dolphin from the wild and poor lives they then lead in captivity.
