Ontario becomes first province to introduce new protections for orcas

Orca whale close up. Image by Seabanirum / CC BY 2.0

On Thursday lawmakers in Ontario passed rules preventing the purchase, sale or breeding of orcas in captivity. The law follows a series of allegations of neglect from former staffers at an aquarium and theme park called Marineland. The park maintains that it has followed existing regulations governing the captivity of marine mammals in Canada. Animal rights groups say praise the new law but also say more must be done to protect marine mammals in Canada and the US. Read more: thestar.com