A dolphin Park? Or a dolphin cage?
Photo: holistictour.com
Dolphins of course, are intelligent cetaceans around the world. They are mammals just like us. They are free living lovers of nature. They are closely related to whales and porpoises. They live around shallow waters mostly in the tropical region. They eat mostly fish and squid. We all love dolphins for what they are. But does this mean that we need to capture them and show the world what they can do?
In Maldives, different types of dolphins are seen. Spotted dolphins, striped dolphins and dwarf sperm whales are seen mostly. Dolphins are seen in almost all waters within Maldives. Dive centers, safaris and other organizations do conduct dolphin watching programs for tourists and locals. It seems that the Government of Maldives is leasing a lagoon to create a dolphin park. The Cabinet has approved a proposal to lease a lagoon for 21 years to Maldives top tennis player Amir Mansoor to develop a dolphin lagoon and training center.
Is this acceptable?! Dolphins are completely protected species in the Maldivian waters. I don’t think dolphins deserve to be in a cage for the rest of their life. They are fast swimmers and its hard for me to see them swimming in circles. Training dolphins is an impressive move, but is it impressive to train them for the use of human entertainment? Even though special care and medical attention are given to them. They are friendly creatures of course, but does this mean we could use them? According to the government gazette, the Cabinet on October 4 deliberated on a paper presented by the Finance Ministry and approved the proposal to lease the lagoon located between Thilafushi and Baros to Mansoor as decided by the National Planning Council.
Photo: indritours.com
Also Amir Mansoor says the dolphins that are gong to be brought for this project are bottlenose dolphins which were born and raised in captivity. So does this mean that bringing a creature raised from captivity should be again in another cage!?
Dolphins in captivity is not acceptable! These types of actions should not be done in a country like Maldives. In a country where environment protection law isn’t enforced, it is hard to trust the government that they are doing a good thing. They want to raise money by tricking the intelligence of these creatures for human entertainment and general amusement. Several environmentalists and marine animal lovers have shared their concerns against this project. We don’t need a dolphin park to see dolphins. Dolphins are seen anywhere around Maldives, a safari boat or a dive center can arrange a dolphin watching program on demand. This has shown me a question, is the Maldivian government planning to raise more money by creating animal cages?
Please share your concerns below or this website: http://scuba-tribe.com/news/governmentleasinglagoontocreateadolphinpark
I agree with you Azan. Dolphins should not be caged, they should be free!!!
No captivity; not in a tank, not in a pen. For dolphins who can live free, they have the right to live free unharassed or defined by any human need or curiosity.
To me personally, this would be partially acceptable ONLY IF no wild dolphin is captured and put in the lagoon. That means that ONLY and CERTIFIABLY dolphins born and raised in captivity, should be put in. As much as we have no rights to keep animals in captivity, captivity born and raised dolphins wouldn’t have the skills to survive in the wild and for that reason only, I would be inclined to think that a natural lagoon is a better habitat for them than a concrete pool.
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Dear EcoCare Maldives, I am Mark Berman Associate Director of Earth Island Institute and the director of dolphin safe tuna monitoring worldwide. This includes the dolphin safe tuna industry of Maldives.
I can state that the claim that only captive born dolphins from outside Maldives will be imported is still what it is a slave trade in dolphins for human abuse. The traffic in live dolphins MUST end. Breeding IS NOT sustainable in a captive setting. Keeping these dolphins in pens is also going to risk non native diseases to be spread to the wild dolphins of Maldives, plus if any escape these non native dolphins can cause genetic problems with the wild population.
Earth Island is also behind The Cove movie which stars Ric Obarry of our staff. We are prepared to launch an international campaign against this Maldives govt. sponsored BAD IDEA. We have over 2 million signatures on Facebook causes against the Japan govt.
trade and killing of dolphins. Does Maldives want to really join this club of dolphin abuse after years of enjoying dolphin safe status? The tuna industry will be at risk if the govt allows imports of dolphins . The person proposing this does not discuss the source of the dolphins.
If they are captive bred, this means nothing as the parents were brutally captured from the wild. Therefore , the proponent is just as guilty as those capturing and trading in live dolphins. Ric Obarry and I will challenge the proponent and the Govt ministers to a debate in public in Male to show that the Maldives does not need to go down this road.
Sincerely, Mark Berman
Earth Island Institute
berman@earthisland.org
Dear Mr. Berman
Thank you for your comment here on ECOCARE Maldives. We appreciate your support and commitment.
Regards
ECOCARE Maldives
Dear Mark
With all due respect, I have to say I am quite surprise the tone and the extent of your article.
Perhaps, a good idea would be to understand the whole project first before you challenge the proponent and the government of Maldives and its ministers.
I am a Maldivian and I have heard the news as much as Ecocare. Unfortunately, there are no enough detail information’s on which all your concerns are based.
I am sure your campaign will be a strong one but can you tell me what does your campaign did to the government of Japan and or any other countries in Caribbean, Mediterranean and many states of USA etc.
May I sincerely ask you what can you do to help small countries like Maldives in protecting the environment? Where were you when Tsunami hits Maldives? And were among the people who extended their support to develop safe islands? Etc.
I am sure many, like your institutions, are guilty for not been able to contribute to the environment compare the amount of money in the name of protecting environment.
Thanking you
Sincerely
Ahmed
Good idea understand the whole project the cove is bs.
Dear Mark
With all due respect, I have to say I am quite surprise the tone and the extent of your article.
Perhaps, a good idea would be to understand the whole project first before you challenge the proponent and the government of Maldives and its ministers.
I am a Maldivian and I have heard the news as much as Ecocare. Unfortunately, there are no enough detail information’s on which all your concerns are based.
I am sure your campaign will be a strong one but can you tell me what does your campaign did to the government of Japan and or any other countries in Caribbean, Mediterranean and many states of USA etc.
May I sincerely ask you what can you do to help small countries like Maldives in protecting the environment? Where were you when Tsunami hits Maldives? And were among the people who extended their support to develop safe islands? Etc.
I am sure many, like your institutions, are guilty for not been able to contribute to the environment compare the amount of money in the name of protecting environment.
Thanking you
Sincerely
Ahmed
That puts paid to my plans to go on a diving holiday in Maldives