Aquarium in hot: > Death of Qila brings renewed scrutiny Mercedes Deutscher News Editor he death of a beluga whale at the Vancouver Aquarium has the organization under public scrutiny. Qila, aged 21, died of unknown causes on November 16. A necropsy is expected to be completed on November 23. Qila was the first beluga to be both conceived and born in a Canadian aquarium on July 23, 1995. She had lived her entire life in captivity, and had a calf named Tiga in 2008, who died three years after her birth. Aurora, Qila’s 29-year-old mother, still survives at the aquarium. She briefly « fell ill around the same time as her daughter’s death, exhibiting symptoms of abdominal discomfort. These symptoms are similar to those exhibited by Qila shortly before her death. Aurora is now allegedly on the mend, yet it is questionable whether or not that will mean a full recovery. According to CBC, John Nightingale, president and CEO of the Vancouver Aquarium, explained that when Qila exhibited these symptoms, she too had shown signs of recovery, but then her condition worsened again and she died within minutes. “She hasn't been eating and since marine mammals get the water they need through their food, she’s been given fluids. She’s also been given some broad (¥ Kinder Morgan battle rages between people and governments SPOTLIGHT: Begin building bridges Downtown Eastside raises totem pole in honour of survivors And more! Q& after beluga Roan spectrum antibiotics and analgesics to ease whatever pain there might be,” said Nightingale on Aurora’s condition to CBC. Qila’s death has created a window for anti-aquarium activists to bring up their concerns, including Sarah Kirby- Yung, chair of the Vancouver Parks Board. Kirby-Yung is pushing for a referendum question to be included on the ballots for the 2018 Vancouver municipal election. “I think the responsible thing to do is to take the time to have real constructive public dialogue,” Kirby-Yung said to CBC. The Vancouver Aquarium madea pledge 20 years ago to not capture whales for their exhibits. While that may be a relief for some, many are still concerned about the livability of the tanks at the as a= Image via Wikimedia. aquarium. In the last 1 years, 3 of the belugas born in captivity have died before they reached 3 years old, such as Tiga. Kirby-Yung witnessed one of these births as the former vice-president of communications for the aquarium, and sees the values in keeping belugas. “Having belugas at the aquarium, and cetaceans, has provided huge benefits in terms of engaging the public and their appreciation for marine life and marine conservation.” Nightingale added, “They are fit and adapted to live the life they lead and different things matter to them than what matters to us.” Wash away those watershed worries > New plans in place for Coquitlam’s watershed roundtable Aaron Guillen Staff Reporter Ceantam residents have joined forces to find a solution to a pertinent issue in their community concerning the Coquitlam River and its watershed; in fact, they've been formulating their strategy for the past few years. Melissa Dick, an environmental researcher, has been chosen as the coordinator of the group, which is composed of members from the local First Nations; the gravel mining industry; real estate businesses; municipal, provincial, and federal government branches; and BC Hydro. “I'm trying to get the attitudes shifting on how people connect with a healthy watershed,” Dick explained to Tri-City News. “[In addition], I will be doing a lot of public outreach. We need to build that sense of stewardship [in the community]. That’s the message I hope to promote.” A watershed is any area of land where snow or rain drain into rivers, ponds, lakes, or groundwater. Many towns and cities across Canada lie on varying sizes of watersheds, which can cross provincial and international borders. Concerned individuals have formulated a roundtable to discuss the important issues surrounding the watershed they live on, including the ecological sustainability of its environment. According to the Coquitlam River Watershed website, the roundtable’s mission is to “facilitate collaborative Image via Wikimedia resolution of urban growth and natural resource use pressures consistent with agreed community objectives and values; inform and educate people about these matters and the watershed; and promote and support conservation of a sustainable, healthy watershed environment.” In addition, they’ve highlighted ecosystem integrity, native bio-diversity, natural beauty and resources, public access and recreation, and the responsibility to protect as some of the values they uphold. The Coquitlam River watershed lies over parts of the city itself and Port Coquitlam. A section of the land has traditionally been a part of the Kwikwetlem First Nation, and the roundtable hopes to ease worries for its sustainability in the near future. Since the colonization of Coquitlam, urban developments and commercial use have taken their toll on the watershed area. Industrial ventures in the past such as logging and gravel mining have affected the potential of a vibrant Coquitlam river and its salmon numbers, a strong concern. Chum salmon have fared well in the local rivers and streams, but their resiliency doesn’t overshadow the carelessness that Dick hopes to correct. By avoiding the dumping of harmful substances into local waterways and spreading awareness of the campaign against invasive species, Dick hopes to teach all generations to appreciate the rivers they have before they are gone. However, before they do, the roundtable needs to receive funding to spread the word.