Letter from Deirdre Moss Executive Director, SPCA
Today Online 11 Jan 11;
I refer to the letters "Marine park walks the talk" from Resorts World Sentosa and "RWS must comply" from the Singapore Tourism Board (Jan 8).
These letters were in response to recent concerns and objections to the importation of wild-caught dolphins for the planned Marine Life Park at the integrated resort.
The shocking news (reported in Today, Dec 18) that two dolphins from a pod of seven being housed at Langkawi Island, Malaysia, had died, only brings home the reminder that these animals should never have been removed from the wild in the first place.
It is an irony that, whilst the letter "Marine park walks the talk" cites examples where it has supported the conservation of wildlife, Resorts World Sentosa has been party to removing dolphins from the wild. How does this cruel act set an example in education and wildlife conservation?
No doubt RWS has to comply with international regulations and our veterinary authority's animal welfare requirements, but this begs the question of whether it was moral and ethical for the dolphins to have been removed from the wild.
The act of catching and confining these animals in limited spaces and training them to become something they are not cannot possibly contribute towards constructive education of the public on marine life and environmental issues.
While attractions elsewhere may have been successful and have appeal, they have had their share of tragedies as well.
A killer whale, Tilikum, at SeaWorld, Orlando, Florida, killed its trainer last year - following years of confinement and performing in captivity.
Endless mental anguish had probably taken its toll on the giant. We should never underestimate these captive animals' capacity to suffer.
Dolphins, ethics and Resorts World Sentosa
Straits Times Forum 12 Jan 11;
THE shocking news that two dolphins from a pod of seven, being housed on Langkawi island in Malaysia, had died last October only brings home the reminder that these animals should never have been removed from the wild in the first place.
It is an irony that while citing examples where it has supported conservation of wildlife ('Resorts World Sentosa committed to wildlife conservation'; Monday), Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has been party to removing dolphins from the wild for the purpose of becoming an attraction at its Marine Life Park.
How does this cruel act set an example in education and wildlife conservation?
Although RWS must comply with international regulations and our veterinary authority's animal welfare requirements, it begs the question whether it was moral and ethical to have had the dolphins removed from the wild.
The act of catching and confining these animals in limited spaces, and training them to become something they are not, cannot possibly contribute towards constructive education of the public on marine life and environmental issues. Under the circumstances, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals urges RWS to rethink its decision to import dolphins for its Marine Life Park before more deaths occur in the process.
Deirdre Moss (Ms)
Executive Director
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
