09.01.03
Here Fishy Fishy Fishy
9/1/03
Not wanting to let go of the good Tourist trend we had going there, today, we visited the Vancouver aquarium. The aquarium is pretty small but very nicely laid out. The otters as always were frolicking and entertained us for quite a while. While I enjoyed the Beluga Whale and the Dolphin shows I have some very mixed feelings about training captive animals to perform like circus freaks. On the one hand I understand that the animals would probably have died if not put into an aquarium (all had been hurt and rehabilitated) and that they live pretty comfortable lives with plenty of food and attention… but when the whale is made to shake her fin as if to say ‘hello’ in order to get some fish, it takes a rather sad and depressing air.
7:00 PM
I am supposed to be home by now, but I gave up my seat and accepted a later flight in exchange for a round trip ticket with Alaska. I have not slept very well the last few nights and am very tired. All in all I think I got a good deal though, two and a half more hours of wait and I will be heading home. I really do hope they transferred my luggage alright.
Allie said,
September 2, 2003 at 6:47 pm
“…but when the whale is made to shake her fin as if to say ‘hello’ in order to get some fish, it takes a rather sad and depressing air.”
I’m a bit torn. It’s nice to see those animals there, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like for me to be taken from my natural home and made to do tricks for people. Sometimes I’d rather know those animals were free in the wild instead of performing for me.