Canada passes bill banning cetaceans in captivity Posted on 11 June 2019 Tags:Canada, Free Willy Bill Canada’s House of Commons passed the ‘Free Willy’ bill, which makes it illegal to keep or breed a dolphin, porpoise or whale in captivity, on Monday 10 June. According to CNN, keeping cetaceans in captivity will be punishable by up to $150,000 (R2,216,782). The bill, which is expected to become law, was first introduced to the Senate in December 2015. The ‘Free Willy’ bill is also known as ‘The Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act’, according to The Washington Post. Exceptions to the bill will include if the animal has been rescued, if the animal is injured or in distress and needs human intervention/assistance, if the animal is in rehabilitation, if it is licensed for scientific research, or if keeping the animal in captivity is for its best interest. The bill states that ‘a person may move a live cetacean from its immediate vicinity when the cetacean is injured or in distress and is in need of assistance.’ Many animal welfare organisations are celebrating this historic decision. ‘The passage of Bill S-203 is a watershed moment in the protection of marine animals and a victory for all Canadians,’ the executive director of Humane Society International/Canada, Rebecca Aldworth, said in a statement. Image: Unsplash Related Posts Cape Town’s sustainability: Leading the way in environmental initiatives 1 June 2023 As National Environmental Month commences in South Africa, Cape Town stands proudly at the forefront... read more Kapama to host Safari Guide of the Year Awards 2023 1 June 2023 Kapama Private Game Reserve near Hoedspruit will host this year’s Safari Guide of the Year... read more Blood Lions relaunches for public viewing on YouTube 1 June 2023 Award-winning documentary feature film Blood Lions has been relaunched on YouTube for public viewing, creating... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
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