Free Sammy: Captive shark inspires unlikely uprising

Anne Marie McQueen, The Globe and Mail 31 Oct 08;

DUBAI — A four-metre-long whale shark nicknamed Sammy remains the star attraction at the posh new Atlantis Hotel, even as many who visit believe she would be better off in the ocean.

In a real-life, United Arab Emirates twist on the 1993 film Free Willy, the whale shark was captured off the coast of Dubai in late August and brought to the Lost Chambers aquarium. Management at the $1.87-billion, 1,539-room hotel on Palm Jumeirah, one of Dubai's man-made land extensions, have said the marine animal was rescued floundering in warm, shallow Gulf waters, and is being cared for, fed and monitored by a staff of marine specialists.

Yet since the whale shark went on display to the public in late September, a grassroots campaign for her release – the sort of social movement uncommon to this small Middle Eastern nation – has turned into a public outcry.

A local newspaper started things off by publishing “Free Sammy” badges and bumper stickers. DJs at a radio station composed a Free Sammy song and several community groups sprouted up, dedicated to the cause. In recent weeks Emirates Wildlife Society and the World Wide Fund for Nature made a plea for the whale shark's release. The Emirates Marine Environmental Group issued a statement, Peta Asia-Pacific got on board and organizations from the Seychelles to Britain joined the call. In addition to online petitions and shops selling Free Sammy T-shirts and hoodies, the whale shark's plight also has been explored through poetry and cartoon.

As pressure mounted by the middle of October, Dubai's Minister for the Environment and Water, Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, told local media the animal would be freed, but did not say when. Weeks later, the hotel has yet to indicate its plans, and Sammy remains captive.

When viewed recently, the whale shark swam in slow circles around the hotel's 11-million-litre Ambassador Lagoon, dwarfing hundreds of other fish below. Her slightly shredded tail fin was the only sign something might be amiss. In the gift shop, sizable plush replicas – with the species' distinctive white spots and wide, flat snout – sold for $61.

Vincent Nibbering, a 20-year-old university student from the Netherlands, was visiting with some school friends.

“I think this aquarium is way too small for her,” he said, peering through the glass. “She deserves to be free.”

The largest Free Sammy group has almost 13,000 members on its Facebook page – a mix of different nationalities, including Emiratis and far-flung sympathizers from Australia to Thailand.

Donna Ralph, a 45-year-old British expatriate who started the group, has been spending hours every day on the cause. She cornered a manager at the aquarium, presenting him with a petition bearing more than 2,000 names. She will remain vigilant until the hotel responds to her complaints.

“We want to know what's wrong with her,” she said. “How is she being treated? Why are they keeping her? How long are they keeping her? That's what we need to know.”

The group has been debating some sort of demonstration, most likely a silent one, although public protests are extremely rare in the non-democratic UAE.

James Defronzo, a political sociologist and professor emeritus with the University of Connecticut, said the way different cross-sections have mobilized behind this effort could indicate more than just a common desire to see a marine animal set free.

“Participants in this type of protest could possibly come to feel more confident about participating in a social movement,” he said. “Perhaps not just the environmental or animal-rights movements, but a broader social movement to further democratize the UAE.”

Thousands of people have written to the hotel to complain about the Sammy situation through PetaAsia-Pacific's website, said Ashley Fruno, a senior campaigner with the organization in Hong Kong.

And even if the whale shark is eventually released, she said there are other new aquatic-themed attractions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to be concerned about.

“As the UAE has developed, unfortunately, there has been an explosion of exotic animals being brought in,” she said.

Staff at the Atlantis did not return calls for comment. The hotel is prepping for a grand opening bash Nov. 20 featuring a performance by pop star Kylie Minogue. Rumoured star attendees include David and Victoria Beckham.

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea, plankton feeders that can grow up to 20 metres in length. They are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

Environmental groups say every day the whale shark is kept captive and fed by humans diminishes its chances of surviving if it is returned to the sea.