This year marks 50 years since the Vancouver Aquarium became the first in Canada to exhibit narwhals, with a young male (named Keela Luguk), being the first to arrive at the facility following his capture from Grise Fiord, Canada.
Shortly afterwards more followed, meaning at one time Vancouver Aquarium held the largest collection of wild-caught, captive narwhales in the world, however within four months of their arrival at the facility all six animals had died.
Vancouver Aquarium announced recently that they were to temporarily pause public programming to focus on developing a new business model. The Aquarium has been surrounded in controversy over recent years with regards to their beluga display and in the years since the facility was founded, have displayed not only belugas but also orca and dolphins.
More about the history of VA’s narwhal programme here
