Boston: Flipper Fans Stop a Swap

Flipper Fans Stop a Swap

At first glance, the proposed swap seemed merely a mutual convenience. The New England Aquarium in Boston would give the Naval Ocean Systems Center in San Diego an overly rambunctious 450-lb. male dolphin named Rainbow and in return get a mild-mannered female that is hard of hearing and is thus disqualified for experiments in hearing capability and acoustic response to underwater sounds. When animal lovers heard about it, however, they mounted a fierce protest. First, a coalition picketed the aquarium then last week Citizens to End Animal Suffering and Exploitation filed a federal lawsuit to block the trade.

Protesters argue that...

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