Letter to the Editor
 Wild dolphin |
I thought I'd post a copy of my letter. I'm against dolphins in captivty anywhere in the world not just in Bermuda and am proud to have organised and won a campaign against the construction of a second dolphinarium in Bermuda. However, we still have one dolphin jail here and I'd like to see it go!
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Dear Sir,
Thank you for brightening up my Monday with that spectacular photo of a pod of dolphins on your front page! Nothing can compare to seeing dolphins in the wild. I am am thrilled as a Bermudian to have the opportunity to see wild dolphins and whales on my own doorstep.
So why do we allow a captive dolphin facility to remain here when there is ample opportunity to see wild dolphins and whales for at least 2 months of the year? These facilities are banned in the U.K on ethical grounds. While Dolphin Quest pride themselves on their research and environmental education they are ultimately a commercial (and non-Bermudian) business that trap and bribe dolphins in order to entertain us.
Dolphins in the wild live for an average of 40 years but in captivity this is cut in half. Dolphin Quest recently discovered that wild dolphins in Bermuda waters can dive down over a thousand feet yet they keep their own dolphins in less than 15 feet of water.
So many people think that dolphins must be happy in captivity because they appear to be smiling all the time. I wonder if there would be a dolphinarium still existing in the world today if their mouths didn't look like that. It is only when you see dolphins swimming wild and free that you really know what a happy one actually looks like.
Lisa Vickers
Smiths
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www.freethedolphins.com
The Dolphin Project - from the guy who trained "Flipper"
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society captivty campaign
Marine Connection - dolphins in captivty campaign
Humane Society - marine mammals in captivty campaign
Comments
Hi Lisa,
I write letters to editors too on enviro issues and I have to boast a little because they have all been published!!
Regarding dolphinariums I must especially point out that even Norway, a whaling nation, have banned all dolphinariums, deeming them as cruel. Btw Norway is IMO a very strange country, they have maybe the world's strongest horse protection laws, but unfortunately hunting and whaling are widely accepted as a national pride.
Posted by: Ann Novek | April 20, 2006 12:54 PM
Strangely enough, the cheapest way to insure your car in Norway is to join the national hunting association (or whatever they call it). This was recounted to me by a friend upon his move to Oslo. Or maybe that was just his excuse for joining up ;o)
Posted by: Sketchy | April 21, 2006 12:11 AM
Excellent letter!
Posted by: Pete | April 21, 2006 05:40 PM
Letter was published Wednesday April 26th ;-)
Posted by: Wavemaker | April 30, 2006 01:06 AM
I know what you mean-I once visited Marineland here in St Augustine, and tho I loved being "that" close-it also broke my heart watching them swim in what was essentially a pool.
Living on the Florida coastline provides some wonderful views of dolphins swimming free-the best way to learn of their behavior and they even allow you to get relatively close if you aren't with a crowd...such curiosity, on both parts.
Posted by: Kathy G | May 1, 2006 01:33 AM