The Georgia Aquarium sadly announced the passing of Taroko, its male whale shark, after nearly two decades at the facility. The decision to euthanize Taroko was made Wednesday night due to a decline in his health and behavior, despite veterinary interventions. Since arriving in 2007, Taroko captivated over 43 million visitors and contributed valuable data about whale shark biology. A necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of his health issues.
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The Mexican Senate has unanimously approved a nationwide ban on dolphin and marine mammal shows, amending the General Wildlife Law to prohibit “extractive exploitation” with exceptions for verified scientific research. This legislative victory follows a three-year effort fueled by public concern over animal welfare violations and the delayed implementation of a 2022 law. The new law, nicknamed the “Mincho Law,” was prioritized by President Claudia Sheinbaum and mandates humane lifetime care for existing captive mammals while imposing significant fines for noncompliance. The legislation comes after intensified enforcement actions against violators and will affect the approximately 350 captive dolphins in Mexico, a country that ranks among the top 10 dolphinarium operators worldwide.
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John Q. Hosedrinker