Letter from Satveer Kaur (Ms), Straits Times 3 Sep 08;
I REFER to last Friday's article 'Whale sharks at IR? Bad move, say activists' about Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) bringing in a whale shark to the integrated resort (IR).
This is really appalling.
How can they for even a moment think they can provide a suitable environment for what is the largest fish in the world?
All the love and care they claim they will provide to the shark will never be enough to meet its needs.
Will they allow it to swim and dive the great distances it does in the wild?
Whale sharks have been tracked over 13,000km and dive to depths of more than 1,000m.
Even if we place the whale shark in a tank the size of Singapore it would not be big enough. What more on a tiny part of Sentosa?
Furthermore, it is strange that RWS has cited their Marine Life Fund as a way to underline its commitment to conservation.
While this should be applauded, it does not in any way make up for their disregard for the welfare of the animals under their charge.
This shark has the world's oceans as its natural home, please do not confine it to a tank for the rest of its life.
