Lone Dolphin Pining Away In World's Largest Shopping Mall

by Becky A. Dayhuff

Howard is the lone survivor of four Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins captured off the coast of Florida in 1985 and shipped to the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada, to be put on public display.

Now 25, Howard has spent 23 years of his life languishing in the mall's indoor aquarium, known as the Dolphin Lagoon and Sea Life Caverns.

Howard's health has been declining for years. That decline has escalated following the deaths of the other three dolphins who were his only companions. Maria died in 2000, Gary in 2001, and Mavis in July of 2003.

During their lives in the indoor aquarium, Maria and Mavis had given birth to five calves, all of whom were stillborn.

After years of controversy and pressure on Howard's behalf from several environmental and animal rights organizations, West Edmonton Mall's general manager, Gary Hanson, announced in late 2003 that the mall planned to move Howard to an unnamed facility.

Hanson qualified his announcement, however, by stating the move would currently be too risky due to Howard's frail health. He said Howard would be put on an intensive diet and exercise regimen to build his strength up for a future move.

But in an Edmonton Journal article on January 9, 2004, Ryan Cormier reported Howard is not getting any healthier despite months of special diets and increased exercise.

"He's not gaining enough weight; that's the real concern," wrote Hanson, and added that a new facility for Howard had in fact not yet been selected.

California Marine veterinarian Brian Joseph, who has been examining Howard at monthly intervals since late 2003, said he is still concerned that the dolphin may never be strong enough to survive a move, although he is now eating more than he had in the previous 5 - 10 years, and has gained a little weight.

"I expected this to be a gradual process and it's turning out to be one," Joseph said. "I look at his progress with guarded optimism."

Many animal advocates, however, believe the West Edmonton Mall is deliberately delaying Howard's move for financial gain.

Witnesses state that despite Howard's ill health he is forced to perform on a daily basis. According to the mall's Web site, there are still two dolphin shows per day, seven days a week.

In addition to his public arena shows, Howard also has to provide "dolphin encounters" to paying guests, and put up with having strange humans donning scuba gear and diving in his enclosure on a daily basis.

Animal advocates are frustrated and worried about the plight of the lonely dolphin.

"I don't believe he'll get any better in the mall," said Julie Woodyer of Zoocheck Canada. "It's that mall that's making him sick."

Tove Reece, director of the Edmonton-based Voice for Animals Society, agrees.

"If he's not getting any better, then what's the point of keeping him? Whether he dies in the mall in a few months or dies while taking a chance at a better life, he should have that chance," Reece said.

The West Edmonton Mall (WEM) is the world's largest mall, with over 800 shops, 110 restaurants, and 7 attractions spanning 43 city blocks, and more than 20,000 parking spaces.

Despite the worldwide controversy surrounding the dolphins' captivity and deaths, the mall still intends to open additional animal exhibits. Don Ghermezian, president of Triple Five Corporation, parent company of the WEM and the Mall of America, recently announced future acquisitions of lion and bear cubs, elephants, zebras, and sea lions for display at the mall.

While not confirming the purchase of additional dolphins, WEM 's general manager, Gary Hanson, stated the mall does have plans to "upgrade" the dolphin exhibit.

Triple Five Corporation can be contacted at: (780) 444-8100 or email: mail@triplefive.com. Gary Hanson, the West Edmonton Mall general manager, can be reached at: (780) 444-5200 or email: Gm@westedmontonmall.com.

More information about the campaign to free Howard can be found at: www.zoocheck.com.

© 2004 Animal News Center, Inc.