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The Vancouver park board voted Monday night to ban new cetaceans at the Vancouver Aquarium, a move the aquarium says threatens the work of its marine mammal rescue program but one animal-rights activist greeted it with applause and cheers.

Hundreds of vocal aquarium supporters stood outside the park board offices in the rain Monday for more than two hours, but failed to sway the board.

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“You could feel the passion on both sides,” said park board chair Michael Wiebe after the contentious vote. “Our main goal is that when this settles down the decision made by the park board will be seen as the right decision.”

The board voted 6-1 to amend its bylaws to ban new dolphins, whales or porpoises — including sick or injured ones — at the aquarium, which drew a record 1.2 million visitors last year.

It will allow the aquarium to keep and display the three cetaceans currently in its care — Helen, a Pacific white-side dolphin; Daisy, a harbour porpoise; and Chester, a false killer whale — but prohibit it from using the animals in shows, performances or any form of entertainment.