Environmental groups have opposed the export of dolphins. The Park says it has complied with all legal requirements Marine Controversy T


here has been some contro- versy related to the capture of wild dolphins from the Solomon Islands and in October 2012,


Quezon City court issued a 72-hour tem- porary environment protection order to block the re-export of the dolphins to Marine Life Park, following a civil rights suit fi led by animal rights groups. A Resorts World Sentosa (RWS)


spokesperson reiterated that the resort’s acquisition of the 25 Indo-Pacifi c bottlenose dolphins adhere to regula- tions governed by the United Nations Environment Programme under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Another appeal was made and the exports to Singapore were tempo- rarily held. When the hold expired, RWS


exported the dolphins while the court appeal was ongoing. On the fl ight to Singapore, the dolphin Wen Wen died. In response to Attractions


Management’s enquiry into this, a spokesperson said: “At Marine Life Park, we take great responsibility in caring for all our marine animals, with a strong focus on the education and conserva- tion of marine life ecosystems. We have reviewed our initial proposal and will not have whale sharks in the aquarium. “On the move of the Indo-pacifi c bot-


tlenose dolphins to their permanent home in Singapore, Marine Life Park has complied with all international, Singapore and Philippines regula- tions. The Philippine court denied the extension fi led for the Temporary Environment Protection Order, and there


“WE TAKE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY IN CARING FOR ALL OUR MARINE ANIMALS, WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON THE CONSERVATION OF MARINE LIFE ECOSYSTEMS”


AM 1 2013 ©cybertrek 2013


was no prohibition for RWS to bring the dolphins to Marine Life Park. “During the move, Wen Wen, a male dolphin estimated to be 10-years-old, died suddenly less than an hour before landing during the three-hour fl ight. Two marine mammal vets on the fl ight responded with emergency medical treatment. Laboratory tests conducted in Singapore and the United States con- cluded that Wen Wen had succumbed to an acute bacterial infection. There was, however, no evidence on the origins of the infection. “Medical examinations prior to the


transport, including full haematology and chemistry profi les as well as cytol- ogy and body examinations, indicated all animals were healthy prior to the move. The 24 dolphins at Marine Life Park have been released from quaran- tine. Based on the close observation and medical status of our dolphins, and the successful completion of the quarantine assessment, we believe the infection was an isolated incident.” ●


Read Attractions Management online attractionsmanagement.com/digital 57


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