Let's move away from using captive dolphins for shows

Straits Times 4 Oct 10;

THE article ('Dolphin Lagoon is too small: SPCA'; Sept 10) highlighted the concerns of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals over the small-size pools that the dolphins are now housed in at Underwater World in Sentosa.

The same report quoted the Underwater World as saying that the main pool area for its six dolphins exceeds international guidelines and safety standards - and is approved by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority.

While we appreciate that there are studies currently being carried out to assess the dolphins' behaviour, and that if new information becomes available, the necessary steps will be taken to redesign the pool and the activities, stress factors may not always be evident or clear-cut.

Aside from the pool size, the question one must ask is, how have these animals benefited from:

# being taken from their natural environment and deprived of their natural behaviour, which includes hunting for their prey;

# confinement in captivity;

# being subjected to questionable training methods and forced to perform; and

# getting up close and personal with humans for photos or swimming sessions.

All of these have definitely compromised the welfare of the dolphins, including their emotional well-being.

The sooner we can empathise with the animals, and move away from the outmoded concept of capturing them for entertainment purposes, the sooner a respect can be fostered for these intelligent, sensitive and emotional creatures that are certainly deserving of a better quality of life.

The SPCA looks forward to the day when no more wild animal shows are held here.

Deirdre Moss (Ms)
Executive Director
Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals