DOLPHINS EXPLOITED AND SUFFERING AT DOLPHIN LAGOON, SINGAPORE

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PRESS RELEASE

 

12 September 2003

 

DOLPHINS EXPLOITED AND SUFFERING AT DOLPHIN LAGOON, SINGAPORE

 

SINGAPORE 12 SEPTEMBER - The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society

(ACRES) expressed serious concerns over the plight of the Indo-Pacific

hump-backed dolphins (Sousa chinensis) currently held in captivity at

Dolphin Lagoon, by Underwater World Singapore (UWS)

 

ACRES, today, launches the 'Suffering, not smiling' campaign, which aims to

raise awareness on the plight of dolphins and urge Singaporeans not to

support marine parks that keep dolphins in captivity. The campaign is based

on scientific and factual evidence that captivity is detrimental to the

welfare of dolphins. It proves that research, conservation and education in

dolphinariums, have minimal benefits to wild dolphins.

 

Although subtle and less visible, the greatest abuse suffered by captive

dolphins lies in confinement itself Dolphins are highly pelagic animals and

have large home ranges of about 30-400 square kilometers in the wild. The

Dolphin Lagoon in Singapore measures one hectare, this represents only

0.0003 per cent of the dolphins natural home range! Clearly, this is

detrimental to the welfare of the animals.

 

Indeed, recent studies in the United States suggest that an inordinate

number of captive dolphins are succumbing to typical stress-related

illnesses such as heart attacks and gastric ulcers. It can hardly be sheer

coincidence that virtually identical disorders affect millions of human

beings forced to endure tedious and repetitive menial work. Natam, the

female dolphin at Dolphin Lagoon had similarly died of a stress-related

illness. She had succumbed to acute gastritis in 2001.

 

Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins are also notoriously shy animals. Forcing

these shy dolphins to perform unnatural acts and forcing them to

participate in contact sessions with humans further compromises their

welfare. The unnatural acts during the dolphin shows also contradict

earlier statements by UWS stating that the dolphins would not be made to

perform tricks which are unnatural.

 

The contact sessions with the dolphins also exposes the participants to

possible diseases from the dolphins. The United States National Marine

Fisheries Service (NMFS) has acknowledged that the potential exists for

transmission of diseases between wild marine mammals and humans. Marine

mammals are known to carry pathogens that can infect humans. As NMFS has

noted, not only do bites from marine mammals carry a danger of infection,

but there are a number of disease agents that are common to both humans and

marine mammals and can be transmitted between them.

 

Outbreaks of infectious disease reported in dolphins include erysipelas,

pasteurellosis, hepatitis, Pseudomonas pseudomallei infection, and systemic

mycosis. While there has been no recorded incidence of human-dolphin

disease transmission at Dolphin Lagoon, it should be noted that the recent

diseases from animals also had no earlier recorded incidences.

 

The conservation and research value of keeping these dolphins in captivity

is also doubtful. Research conducted on dolphins in captivity does not have

the potential to improve the conservation of wild dolphins as the lives of

captive animals are artificial. The extensive list of research on captive

cetaceans listed in the campaign report provide further compelling evidence

of the limited potential of these captive research.

 

The limited value of captive studies and the increasing ability to conduct

research on wild dolphins all undermine the case for the continued research

conducted on captive dolphins. No genuine conservation organisation will

deny the fact that conservation in the wild must take precedence over all

other programmes.

 

Louis Ng, biologist and President of ACRES, said: " Progressive countries

have already banned this cruel practice of keeping dolphins in captivity

because it is impossible to cater to the needs of dolphins in captivity.

They are sea creatures who need wide open spaces and keeping them in

container-size lagoon will drive them insane. Natam, the female dolphin at

Dolphin Lagoon had already succumbed to a stress-related illness. Jumbo,

the male dolphin at Dolphin Lagoon is also showing signs of mental and

physical stress. How much more will it take for people to realize that

dolphins suffer in captivity and should belong to the vast open seas? "

 

Indeed, progressive countries such as the United Kingdom no longer have

dolphinariums (since 1993). Similarly, Brazil, Israel, the state of South

Carolina in USA and the state of Victoria in Austrailia have also enacted

legislation making it illegal to keep marine mammals in captivity.

 

There is also a growing movement within the marine park industry to

discontinue keeping cetaceans in captivity. The Weymouth Sea Life Park and

Marine Sanctuary in United Kingdom states that: Sea Life is committed to

only displaying creatures which can flourish in our environment. Sea Life

believes that whales, dolphins... should not be kept in captivity.

 

Although there are still many unknowns, there have been a number of dolphin

rehabilitation and release that points to this as a viable option for many

captive dolphins. It is the view of ACRES that dolphins belong in the wild.

ACRES is therefore campaigning for the rehabilitation and release of the

dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon, back into the wild. This humane alternative

will give these dolphins back their freedom and the lives they truly deserve.

 

Contact:

 

Louis Ng

President

Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES)

Email: louis

Handphone: (65) 97968592

 

 

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