Letter to Bernie Marcus and Jeff Swanagan

The recent spate of semi-hysterical tirades directed toward the Georgia Aquarium prompts one to submit a less emotional view concerning the recent unfortunate deaths of a beluga whale and a whale shark in the care of the Georgia Aquarium. I feel that I can easily speak from the perspective of one who has spent a great deal of my lifetime in the cause of animal and the care of kindness toward our animal friends.

There has been a great deal of wailing and gnashing of teeth concerning the death of the aforementioned creatures, but before one so piously condemns the caring professionals who operate the Aquarium, we should examine the life of these creatures BEFORE their home became that marvel known as the Georgia Aquarium.

Gaspar was a beluga whale, a most gentle and beautiful creature that seemed to be doomed to end a tortured life, dying in a small tank beneath a rollercoaster in a rather unappealing amusement park. Due to a civic minded citizen of Atlanta, Bernie Marcus, and a dedicated crew of caretakers led by Jeff Swanagan, Gaspar and others were brought to Atlanta to receive the finest care in the greatest facilities available in order to turn around a miserable pain filled existence. There is no doubt in my mind these people did exactly what they set out to do, turn that life around and make it better.

It is very easy for one to sit on the sideline and criticize this action by easily dismissing it as of no consequence and merely suggest “why not just place them back into the ocean.” Lest we all forget, nature can sometimes be rather demanding and yes even a cruel entity, especially for those whoa re ill, aged, old or weak. I have no doubt that not only was the remaining time allowed for Gaspar’s life extended, but the time was spent in as humane and caring environment as we puny humans could provide.

As for Norton, the whale shark, (a fish, albeit a very large one, and not a mammal) he was assuredly transported half way around the world and placed on display along with countless other fish to the wonder and delight of countless thousands of children and adults who may never ever have seen such a magnificent creature otherwise in any environment.

Again, there are those who would say this poor creature should have never been taken from the sea and transported great distances for the mere entertainment of humans. If it were as simple as this, I could have been inclined to agree, but for this particular animal, that choice was not so easy or simple. Many of us are familiar with the saying that walking along a lonely beach covered by thousands of drying starfish and randomly tossing them backinto the sea will certainly not save them all. But to those selected and tossed back, it made a huge difference. Since Norton’s fate was scheduled to be chopped into small pieces and consumed with rice balls and crackers, being transferred to Atlanta proved to be a much more acceptable fate. Like the star fish, it did make a difference to Norton and Ralph as well, who by the way is still swimming happily around in one piece.

For those who are critical of the Georgia Aquarium, I merely submit, there are thousands of other animal abuses taking place each and every day (yes, in the United States as well as other parts of the world) that in my opinion need the attention of these critics far more than the Georgia Aquarium. Until all animal abuse is halted, let us express our criticisms a little more thoughtfully.

Bill Garrett is the past President of the Atlanta Humane Society and Society For Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals, Inc. and SPCA of Georgia.Bill Garrett , 2006 award winner of the American Humane Association Humanitarian Of The Year Award.