If I need to take part in some public petition or strike to petition against Resort World Singapore (RWS) to buy 27 wild-caught bottlenose dolphins from the Solomon Island, I would. I would even dress up as the tortured caged wild dolphins to petition if need be!
When they're bidding for the project, RWS promised a Marine Life Park (MLP) to put Singapore on the world map as the region's leader in marine research, CONSERVATION and education. So how the hell does BUYING 27 WILD-CAUGHT dolphins from the Solomon Island a conservation effort? Instead of getting captive-bred dolphins, they have to get the wild ones. Isn't it such a hypocritical thing for RWS to promise conservation but yet PURCHASING 27 wild dolphins to keep them in captivity??? So much for conservation.
In today's (10 Jan 2011) Forum on the Straits Times, apart from saying that RWS would have a team of specialists and experts to care for the dolphins, the VP of Communications from RWS replied to SPCA's plight to ban dolphin captivity by saying that RWS has some $3.2 million-Marine Life Fund and has been doing lots of conservation campaign and what nots since 2008. Okay, fine, kudos to that.
However, when Animal Concerns Research & Education (ACRES) went to survey RWS' resort in Langkawi which also has dolphins, they're appalled by the ghastly condition the dolphins are kept. The “team of professionals and animal experts” failed to provide adequate care to the dolphins in Langkawi and it seems RWS did not even employ a full-time vet to care for the dolphins or have an animal hospital there. Two of the dolphins, who only a year ago swam freely in the wild, have now died. Click here to read more.
And you're telling me that the dolphins are well taken care of? Sorry, RWS, but I think your so-called conservation effort and MLF fund are merely tools to help you win the bid to set up resort here. It's sorely pathetic. Click here to read ACRES' note on Facebook. I totally second that. I hope a petition of sort could be quickly organised to do whatever intervention possible.
2 comments:
I agree that it was a big mistake for the initial storage of the dolphins, however, scientist have proven that dolphins tend to live longer in captivity. Also, by keeping them in captivity, we are able to better take care of them. Furthermore, they are not exactly separated from their pod-mates as they would have ample company (26 to be precise)...
Longer life span doesn't mean good quality of life. If I lock up a couple of people in a confined space, I'm sure I can take good care of them but their loss of freedom is rather inhumane. In fact, dolphins in captivity don't breed as well as the ones in the wild.
If I keep you in captivity with your friends but take good care of you for your entire life, would you be okay with it?
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