VANCOUVER AQUARIUM WELCOMES 2 NEW DOLPHINS

The Vancouver Aquarium welcomed two new Pacific white-sided dolphins to its Wild Coast Exhibit on October 16, 2005.

These two rehabilitated female dolphins, from Enoshima Aquarium in Japan, will be good companion animals for Spinnaker, the Aquarium's 18-year-old male Pacific white-sided dolphin, and Laverne, our new 27-year-old dolphin on loan from SeaWorld.

"I am delighted that we have found two more companions for Spinnaker and Laverne. Aquarium staff have worked very hard to find these dolphins, which meet the criteria set out by the Aquarium and Parks Board," said Dr. John Nightingale, President of the Vancouver Aquarium. "These two new dolphins are important for creating a social grouping for the dolphins, and for our visitors who will be able to see and learn more about one of the visible species on BC's Wild Coast. We have always said our ideal would be a grouping of six or seven animals, as they are a very social species."

The two dolphins, Helen and one that is unnamed (referred to in Japan by only her rehabilitation number), were flown from Japan to Vancouver via a climate-controlled aircraft early Sunday morning. They rode in stretchers or slings suspended inside a transport unit partly filled with water accompanied by two veterinarians, including Dr. Dave Huff, Vice-President of Animal Care and Operations Clint Wright, a veterinary technologist, and two trainers.

These dolphins were stranded by becoming accidentally entangled in fishing nets. They were rescued, and the Japanese government, who deemed them not releasable, sent them to an aquarium. Helen, approximately 17 years old, had to have her pectoral (front) flippers partly amputated due to her injuries and the other dolphin, approximately 11 years old, needed rehabilitative care due to her extremely emaciated condition. Following lengthy recovery periods, both are now healthy.   

Helen and the unnamed female were on limited public display at Enoshima Aquarium. Helen has been part of a multi-year and multi-facility research project focusing on metabolic studies.   The Vancouver Aquarium will continue these studies and also pilot a collaborative project contributing to our scientific understanding of cetacean (whales and dolphins) biosonar abilities. This will then be incorporated into studies to develop devices to aid net detection by wild dolphins in the hope of preventing accidental net entanglement.

Both dolphins will remain in a holding pool on the Aquarium's Wild Coast until Veterinarian Dr. Dave Huff gives them a clean bill of health and Marine Mammal Curator Brian Sheehan feels they are ready to be introduced to Spinnaker and Laverne.