A bill that would prohibit keeping, selling or breeding whales, dolphins and porpoises through amendments to the Criminal Code is making headlines.
Bill S-203 passed in the Canadian Senate last week, and animal rights activists have lauded the decision, calling it a victory for marine mammals.
U of G Prof. Laura Graham disagrees and explained why she thinks the bill is short-sighted in a CBC interview on Oct. 26.
An adjunct professor in U of G’s Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, Graham said captive populations of animals have been critical to conserving their wild counterparts. She said the Senate’s review of aquarium conditions was a lost opportunity, and she believes the Senate should have recommended better regulations rather than ban captivity altogether.
She is an expert on the critical role of captive populations on conserving wildlife through research, education and captive breeding for reintroduction.
Contact:
Prof. Laura Graham
lgraha01@uoguelph.ca