LONDON, UK (8 August 2006) -- An animal welfare charity has called for the closure of the Dolphin Park in Bahrain after a fire killed an elephant seal at the facility this week. London-based Marine Connection says in view of the blaze and reports about alleged poor conditions at the tourist attraction it must not be allowed to re-open. The organisation is urging the Bahrain government to consider the closure of the park and ban the keeping of dolphins and whales in confinement. Captivity officer Andrina Murrell plans to write to the British Ambassador to Bahrain Robin Lamb, along with other concerned organisations, in the hope he will support calls for the park to close. "It is a tragedy that one animal has died and a beluga whale has been subjected to the trauma of this fire as well as the stressful relocation to a private pool which is not tailored for this animal's complex requirements," she told the GDN. "Marine Connection is keen to find out exactly where this pool is and how the multifaceted conditions a beluga whale demands are being met. "Simply to move the beluga whale to another pool and add salt, even with air conditioning, is totally unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately. "Beluga whales are extremely sensitive to their surroundings as they have adapted over millions of years to the expanse of the freezing Arctic environment. "To be placed in artificial and inadequate conditions will be seriously detrimental to this whale's health - physically and psychologically. "Marine Connection is very concerned over the current and future welfare of this animal." Ms Murrell also raised concerns about the transportation of animals between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, arguing it would be a stressful experience for them, adding the charity has "serious doubts about this practice and its welfare and legal implications". Gulf Dolphin Company assistant general manager Ahmed Mahmoud Abd Al Aal, who manages the Bahrain facility, defended the park. | | Following the lead of PADI 5-Star Gold Palm Instructor Development Center Anthony's Key Resort in Honduras and Hugh Parkey's Dive Connection in Belize, scuba diving resorts around the world are opening dolphin amusement parks. "We opened this place with permission from the government," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of people are happy when they visit us. "We respect their opinion but this was an accident." He denied transporting the animals between Saudi and Bahrain would harm them, saying it was done in safe conditions with trainers present and the practice was "normal". Mr Abd Al Aal added the Beluga whale remained in good condition and was being looked after well. Marine Connection last month wrote to the GDN claiming two dolphins were being kept in a small indoor pool, detrimental to their health and psychological well-being. She warned this could make them anti-social and aggressive towards audience members and people coming into contact with them. Ms Murrell said the charity became involved following information provided by a "concerned" Bahrain resident. But Mr Abd Al Aal denied any wrongdoing and said it met international standards. Meanwhile, it has emerged that the fire started in an office and not the kitchen, as was previously thought, officials from the Public Prosecution told the GDN yesterday. SOURCE - Gulf Daily News |
