From: mooring@rikki.Eng.Sun.COM (Linda Mooring)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Beluga Whales Die at Shadd Aquarium in Chicago (long)
Date: 2 Oct 92 19:28:40 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: rikki

In article <39391@fibercom.COM> fas@mudlick.fibercom.com (Andy Smoak) writes:
>In article <1992Sep28.134211.16814@cbnewsk.cb.att.com> king@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (joyce.l.king) writes:
>>
>>I have had the incredible honor of being a welcome
>>visitor in a pod of wild dolphins, over a period of three years, and our
>>communication was beautiful and moving.
>>
>>Go ahead and flame me.  But only if YOU can count wild dolphins among your
>>friends.
>>
>
>First, this is NOT a flame, but I do want to make a point.
>
>Many, if not most, people will not get a rare chance like Joyce has had.
>Using dolphins as an example.  In the past few years, we as consumers
>have been asked to vote with our pocketbooks about the killing of
>
[good stuff about not buying tuna deleted.]

>Another example.  Several years ago I was at the National Aquariam in
>Baltimore.  They had several Beluga whales there in captivity.  I had
>read about whales, seen TV pictures, etc., but never had I been very
>close to these beautiful animals.  My wife and I watched the belugas
>come up the glass and play with the children.  They would come up to the
>glass and stop several feet away.  When the children pressed their faces
>up against the glass the belugas would wait a little longer then they
>would move quickly towards the children.  (Kind of like jumping at
>somebody and saying BOO!).  The children would squeal and jump back from
>the glass.  The whales would hang around for a minute or so looking very
>pleased with themselves then swim away.  They would stay gone for a few
>minutes, then come back and repeat the process with a new group of
>children.  We watched them go through this routine with probably 10
>different groups of kids.  The intelligence of these animals as
>displayed by them inventing this game impressed the hell out of me.  It
>gave me a respect for whales I had never had before.  
>
Wow, what a wonderful experience.  

>The point is this.  There is some benefit to having these animals in
>captivity.  Most people will never have the chance of observing dolphins
>or whales in the wild.  Yet, it is these very people that matter the
>most.  They make up the majority of the consumers and voters that can
>and will influence public policy and private companies.  By not holding
>any of these animals in captivity you are reducing the number of people
>that are personally exposed to them, thus reducing the number of people
>who care about their fate. 
>
Extremely well said.  I too dislike the idea of taking any animal from
its natural environment.  I also am aware that this is often done for
profit and occasionally by disreputable people.

On the other hand, I too will never have the awesome opportunity that
Joyce had to observe dolphins in the wild.  Books can only go so far.
I learned a great deal more about the intelligence and beauty of these
animals by visiting reputable aquariums.  Because of my experiences
at aquariums, I am more aware of the problems facing these animals in
the wild, and will do what I can to help.

Linda

>I was saddened to here about the death of the two belugas at Shedd in
>Chicago, just as I was saddened by my parents report that a dolphin had
>killed one of the belugas at the National Aquariam since we had been
>there.  I was not saddened because they were in captivity however, I was
>saddened for the loss of life and the loss of opportunity.  The
>opportunity being for others to learn from these animals the respect
>that I have developed.
>
>
>--- These views are mine and mine alone.
>-- 
>F. Andrew Smoak                    PHONE: (703) 342-6700,  (800) 423-1183
>FiberCom, Inc.                       FAX: (703) 342-5961
>P.O. Box 11966                  INTERNET: fas@fibercom.com
>Roanoke, VA  24022-1966             UUCP: ...!uunet!fibercom!fas
Newsgroups: rec.pets