Government leasing lagoon to create a dolphin park
One of the local news of Maldives Haveeru put up a news article on their website that “Government to lease lagoon to develop dolphin lagoon”. It is alarming and disturbing to hear or read about such kind developments in the Nation
Maldives has declared its whales & dolphins as protected species and we always had peace of mind that no harm may come to them. As this unfolds little is known how this project would proceed.
A training center for dolphins or a lagoon were tourists would come up to see them by paying a fee to see them is out of the question as they all can see them in the wild every single day. Local resorts and dive centers have regular dolphin watching cruises that happen on a daily basis.
This act is both damaging for the image of Maldives where dolphins and whales live freely enjoying the ocean.
We ask the local community, NGO’s, snorkelers, Tour operators, dive centres, water sport centres, liveaboard and resort operators from all around the world to write and protest that this is simply wrong and that you do not want to see Dolphins, Whales and such in captivity.
To read the article in Haveeru news go to http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/38459
Please voice out your concerns to the emails below
Presidents office of the Maldives
http://www.presidencymaldives.
npc@planning.gov.mv
Department of National Planning
Ministry of Finance and Treasury
Ameenee MaguMale’, 20125, Rep. of MaldivesMinistry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
5th Floor, velaanaage
Ameeru Ahmed Magu
Block 20096
Male’, Republic of Maldives
General Tel:
(+960)3323224
(+960)3323226
Fax: (+960)3322512
E-mail: info@tourism.gov.mv
Category: News
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Sites That Link to this Post
- A dolphin Park? Or a dolphin cage? | November 1, 2011
- The dolphinarium debate — whose fault? | Hilath Online | November 7, 2011
Maybe we should put some rich bussinessmen in tanks for amusement
Yes. That would be more entertaining.
It is sad to knw these articles are being published without proper information.. The dolphin lagoon in maldives is to be created with trained dolphins that are brought in from overseas. These dolphins are born and brought up in these special dolphin centers where they get special love, care and medical help when needed. They crave for human compassion and thats what they get. Besides, the dolphin center is a huge lagoon where they get to freely swim and have fun. No reason to become alarmed. I think it is good that maldives is opening up to these possibilities. It is going to open the locals and foreigners eyes alike to these amazing creatures.
Obviously, you don’t know what you are talking about !!
a very misguided dolphin lover indeed!
How can you call yourself Dolphin Lover when you do not understand the facts!!!
Locals and foreigners can witness the beauty of these creatures while they move across the ocean, not in a confined area.
NO dolphin should be in captivity and I am disgusted that the Maldivian Government are even considering this proposal. The new slogan is ‘Always Natural’ this proposal is anything but natural.
it is sad to know that these critisms are published without proper information. the dolphin lagoon that is to be built in maldives is going to be built with dolphins that are brought in from overseas who have been born and raised in special dolphin centers and not with ones captured from the wild. these dolphins are raised with love and care and with 24hr medical help when needed. they are not trained to perform dangerous tricks but just a synchronized version of their own abilities. these amazing creatures crave for human love and appreciation and thats what they get. besides the dolphin lagoon in the maldives is going to be constructed in a big lagoon where they can freely swim and have fun. it is a great opportunity for the locals and foreigners alike to see these amazing animals in a different perspective and how much more they are capable of.
I think people who are agreeing to keep these lovely creatures in captivity are in lack of knowledge. They are dreaming about an income they might get of this. By letting it be free in the ocean we get more income and happiness than keeping it in f***ing park. Humans don’t need to train it. They grow with the natural training which human cannot do it.
Let me ask ” if we keep you in a big park of 1km, will you be happy to be there for rest of your life?” For sure dolphins won’t be happy, because they travel up and down in ocean everyday. They are not moving in a cage of 1km.
Pity that you just run articles without knowing the facts!
If you are a registered company where are your contact details, address and names?
Well unfortunately if you do a little googleing you find these:
http://www.inkokomo.com/dolphin/captivity.html
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/blood-dolphins/dolphins/opposition-dolphins-captivity.html
http://www.dolphincareuk.org/captivity.html
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Cove+director+against+holding+whales+dolphins+captivity/2654613/story.html
and maybe we should ask a MArine Biologist or Zoologist if Dolphins “crave Human compassion” …if this Dolphin Lagoon for awareness? Making Money? What else??? So amny questions that the company and government need to answer to the public.
I would like to clarify that the information given in this article is totally incorrect and it is a pity that it was published without verifying the facts first. The dolphins of the Maldives will not be captivated nor harmed in any way. The Dolphin Lagoon Maldives is primarily meant as a recreational center offering table tennis, darts, billard, photography, childrens playground, watersports activities and dolphin encounters.
The dolphins that are going to be brought for this project are bottlenose dolphins which were born and raised in captivity. They will be kept in a natural lagoon here in the Maldives with a diameter of 1 km and therefore will have far more space than the place where they are kept now.
Our mission is to present the truth about dolphins despite their popular and sometimes mythological image. We do this by providing an educational venue with our programs. By offering information and interaction we hope to encourage a sense of wonder and fascination based on fact, not fiction.
The physical and mental well being of the animals that will come under our care is our number one priority and therefore we are bringing their trainers and veterinarian as well . The dolphins are free to interact spontaneaously. By fostering a personal bond between the local community and the dolphins, we hope to encourage a sense of committment to the protection and the well-being of dolphins.
Our intention is also to reach out to schools, local handicapped organisations, orphanages and provide them with free lectures and educational material on dolphins followed by direct interaction with the dolphins including transfer to the lagoon.
We hope that with our programs we will be able to raise awareness and care for our under sea world.
So it’s ok as long as the dolphins are not Maldivian, huh? Dolphins are dolphins, whether they are from the Indian Ocean, or the Atlantic, or the Pacific..
Our country is almost 99% ocean and you can see dolphins just standing on the beach on any of our islands. If you want a closer look, get out there with them.
A lagoon with a 1km diameter is a joke!! Do you know how far these animals travel? Do you know that these are very intelligent animals that enjoy their freedom? They play and have fun. Don’t believe me?
Then why do they surf?
Let them be free
Mr. Mansoor, your saying “it’s ok, these are JUST captive bred dolphins” and “We hope that with our programs we will be able to raise awareness and care for our under sea world” If you TRULY cared about the undersea world then you would not be deliberately turning a blind eye to the question of where the parents of your precious entertainment center’s dolphins come from!Those captive bred dolphins didn’t appear out of a vacuum.If you actually cared about the under sea world you would not support a program that break the God given patterns of behavior of the species.
“All dolphins in captivity are prevented or impeded from learning and expressing natural behaviors. It is becoming increasingly clear that “culture” is exceedingly important to dolphins – mothers teach specific skills to offspring and juveniles are able to learn other behaviors via imitation of other pod mates [4]. For example, a 2005 study published by the US National Academy of Sciences documented cultural transmission of a behavior among dolphins in Australia, where certain mothers were observed teaching their young to cover their snouts with a sea sponge to avoid scratches when foraging for food in the sandy bottom[5]. Culture is lost in captivity or at best is replaced by an artificial culture with no evolutionary or ecological basis.” Letting human trainers be foster parents to the dolphins is like giving a human baby to chimpanzees to raise.
If you are sooooo interested in educating the public about undersea world by all means educate them on the IMPACT that we humans thoughtlessly have on the sea for eg Effects of mindlessly throwing a coke bottle into the sea while traveling on a boat.And if you want to educate the public about dolphin through dolphin encounters there are better ways-check out this website http://www.dolphinencounter.co.nz/
I’m wondering HOW someone who claims to promote a love for the undersea world can be so blind to the global impact of such a center and also feel no respect for the dolphins themselves so far as to delude themselves that a 1km enclosure with unnatural human created pod is the best environment for them.
Please do not tarnish the Maldives by making us a part of such ugly global practices.
It is obvious that it’s not the “love” of dolphins that is driving these people into this business of keeping dolphins in captivity. It is pure and simply GREED – $$$$$$$!!!!
Keep it as a recreational centre, just leave the dolphins out of it…
This is the first time a company official has directly responded to a concern by public and i congratulate you Mr Mansoor for having the courage and decency
As for your concern yes we should have talked to you about our concern before hand and will keep that in mind for future reference and it is NOT and excuse for us to say we usually never get any communication with concerned parties even if we try. We are not singling out your effort but rather we are against the process of Animals in Captivity and skeptical of Animals and humans interacting in un natural environments unless it is for direct biological or world life changing experimental research or an exception as such.It also would be of great help if you could meet us or produce a document outlining what exactly will go on at this facility. I reassure you our concerns are for the conservation of our fragile environment and ecosystem and its inhabitants.Thank you again 
its a known fact that these intelligent,playful mammals live in the sea,Man has always wanted to amuse themselves for pleasure and amusement.Its sad that we think this way, its sad that Sea World dose this as well they have a law suit under them by PETA SeaWorld Under US Slavery Law
,lessons have been learned sometimes the hard way.I do not believe in captivity for any dolphin or whale regardless of where it is coming from if these mammals are kept in captivity the very people who dose this..i believe should train them to recover them to the wild and set them free.
Spinner dolphins pilot whales & whales are protected by the government of Maldives as i believe !Why in the first place do we need to import a mammal from out side of Maldives can you imagine the risks involved in transporting even one.If you would like to educate the public take a local tour on the ferry read books take a tour from your resort they have dolphin excursions or how about your dive boat see them for free educate your self on the internet or other basis SEE THEM IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.Dont bring dolphins or whales from other country’s risking their lives for pleasure and sell fee’s for people to see them in some sought of a lagoon.
Dear all they jus belong in the ocean whether a captive dolphin or the one which is ridding with you close to your boat yes my friend.
I will not or neither of my friends would go and pay to see or for free to see a dolphin deprived of its only freedom….the ocean.
Stop this now
“captive-bred dolphins are not domesticated and have the same inherent needs as wild-born animals. Mortality rates bear out the fact that life in captivity cannot be assumed to be preferable or better for those born into it”
Please read the rest of the article Mr Mansoor.
http://www.wspa-usa.org/wspaswork/marinemammals/captivedolphininteractprogram.aspx
Since your intention is to “encourage a sense of committment to the protection and the well-being of dolphins” FREE THE DOLPHINS, instead of moving them to your 1 km diameter natural lagoon.
Why even burden yourself the finances of purchasing these Dolphins, hiring trainers, veterinarians, all other expenses to maintain these Dolphins confined in in this 1 km natural lagoon and train them to spontaneously interact with people. When you can easily achieve your noble goals of teaching schools, local handicapped organizations and orphanages about these brilliant creatures in the wild by simply arranging Dolphin watching trips?
Maldives can not advertize as an “eco-friendly” destination, and then put such emblematic animals in a cage, no matter how big the cage is supposed to be….
How can the Maldivian govt keep a straight face after this in international gathering on climate change, when asking for international community help ?
This is a disgrace …
Is it cool to see dolphins at the zoo?
CONSIDER THESE FACTS:
53% of those dolphins who survive the violent capture die within 90 days.
The average life span of a dolphin in the wild is 45 years; yet half of all captured dolphins die within their first two years of captivity. The survivors last an average of only 5 years in captivity.
Every seven years, half of all dolphins in captivity die from capture shock, pneumonia, intestinal disease, ulcers, chlorine poisoning, and other stress-related illnesses. To the captive dolphin industry, these facts are accepted as routine operating expenses.
In many tanks the water is full of chemicals as well as bacteria, causing many health problems in dolphins including blindness.
When a baby dolphin is born in captivity, the news is usually kept secret until the calf shows signs of survival. Although marine mammals do breed in captivity, the birth rate is not nearly as successful as the one in the wild, with high infant mortality rates.
Wild dolphins can swim 40 to 100 miles per day – in pools they go around in circles.
Many marine parks subject their mammals to hunger so they will perform for their food. Jumping through hoops, tailwalking and playing ball are trained behaviors that do not occur in the wild.
Confined animals who abuse themselves (banging their heads against the walls) are creating stimuli which their environment cannot supply. Dolphins in captivity tend to develop stereotypical behaviors (swimming in a repetitive circle pattern, with eyes closed and in silence) because of boredom and confinement. This is equivalent to the swaying and pacing of primates, lions, tigers and bears confined in cages.
Dolphins are predators of fish and spend up to half of their time in the wild hunting for food. Supplying dead fish results in less exercise and lack of mental stimulation, thus causing boredom.
When trapped together, males often become agitated and domineering. This creates pecking orders (unknown in the wild) and unprovoked attacks on each other and the trainers. In the ocean, although fights are not unknown, the wild dolphins have a chance to escape.
THEY WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE….
Dolphinariums claim that their mission is to protect dolphins in the wild through research and public education. Those are nice words but facts speak louder. If dolphins are so happy in captivity, why do they die so fast? Why the secrecy about their mortality rates? There would be fewer spectators if people knew how many animals were “dying” to amuse them. Perhaps if the death records were displayed at the entrance, no one would buy a ticket.
Education?
Most dolphinariums have made little or no contribution to education about dolphins. Jacques Cousteau believed that captive dolphins are conditioned and deformed and bear little resemblance to dolphins living in freedom in the sea. It’s like studying human psychology only in prisons, which leads, obviously, to misinterpretations and absurd generalizations. As people learn more about the wild cetaceans, they pity more the captive ones. As TV, computers, and virtual reality become greater educational tools, the justification for keeping captives on display disappears.
Research?
We blindfold dolphins to study the efficiency of their echolocation system. We put probes in their larynxes and nostrils to examine their sound production. We train them to push buttons and levers, to choose between materials and colors, we teach them to speak. We clamp them down, drill holes into them, and dissect them. Why? They do not exist as subjects for agonizing experiments by man. Dolphins suffer no less than humans. The only way scientists should study dolphins is to swim with them in the wild. No argument can rationalize the forced confinement of these highly intelligent creatures. Dolphins are innocent sufferers in a hell of our making.
The Good News is…
Fortunately for the dolphins, more and more people are becoming concerned about dolphin suffering, and uncomfortable at sea circuses. Citizens are now speaking out loudly that dolphins and whales belong in the ocean. This is the only hope. Imagine this: A theme park has a dolphin show and nobody goes. The owners will soon close down. There would be no dolphin shows if no one paid to watch them.
Dolphins have evolved over 50 million years to be successful in their wild habitat!
facts are from http://www.inkokomo.com/dolphin/captivity.html
As a PADI Project AWARE Specialist Mr. Mansoor I don’t support your idea at all. If you have a slave Mr. Mansoor what would the slave think? To earn more money or to get away? But what would an animal think? Of course to get away. But of course some dont show what they want. Do you know the hearts of dolphins Mr. Mansoor? Have you thought of enforcing the environment protection law of Maldives? or would the law enforce itself by you bringing dolphins to create a dolphin lagoon? By bringing them here you take them away from their native homes. You want to make money by tricking animals into human entertainment isnt it? No matter from where or what type of dolphins you bring, dolphins are dolphins. And are protected cetaceans like whales. So before trying to explain the information here, why dont you think of enforcing the environment protection law of Maldives rather than creating a dolphin lagoon park!
Mr. Amir Mansoor is doing this for business. Why in the first place do you want to have Dolphins in captivity when the Maldives is now branding itself as ‘Always Natural’ and in a country where Dolphins and Whales are a protected species? You think that importing Dolphins from another country will be ok and we, in the dive industry will be ok with it? You’re wrong. If you’re a lover of the sea and environment you won’t do this. this is just business for you and you want make money out of this. If you really want to educate the people and school kids, give them dolphin tours and lectures. You can see Dolphins in their own environment everyday near Male’ even. Jumping and playing. The international dive community is going to boycott your boats ‘Carpe Diem’ & ‘Carpe Vitae’ if you do go ahead with this nonsense. Didn’t you think of that? People don’t want to see Dolphins in captivity. Me and my friends in the dive community will do whatever it takes to stop this crazy idea of yours from happening.
Yes I agree with you Mohamed that the dive community worldwide needs to know about this and stop chartering the Carpe Diem and Carpe Vita from now on for Mansoor even to conceive the idea of such an absurd project. Then if this madness of a project gets the go ahead from the Maldivian Government, divers worldwide should boycott Maldives altogether.
Maldives is known as an island paradise. Tourists who come to maldives can see different forms of aquatic life including dolphins by scuba diving etc, already. Plus, if you sail in the Maldivian seas you bump into dolphins anyway. So whats the point of creating such a park and imprisoning them.
Natural species should not be a money generating mechanism of the government or the tourism industry.
I PROTEST.
there is more to these centers than just money.. c this. i think this is going to open a new door for us.
http://dolphin-therapy.org/en
yep, that would be the gateway to hell.
Keeping captive dolphins will never be justifiable, you will in effect be turning these intelligent creatures into dolphins-with-special-needs!!!! Captive dolphins will never replace proper professional long term care for people with special needs. Mansoor should plough his money into meeting the local shortage of human therapists.
Betsy Smith was a pioneer of Dolphin Assisted Therapy but in 2003 she denounced it publicly,
strongly criticising these activities, stating that “It is a rather cynical and deceptive practice by dolphinarium and swim-with-programs owners.
Some certified therapists with no dolphin knowledge will charge exorbitant fees for treatment that can be done without dolphins… At the heart of all these therapy programs is the exploitation of vulnerable people and vulnerable dolphins” (Betsy Smith 2003).
Further truths about dolphin assisted therapy can be found at this link
http://www.wdcs.org/submissions_bin/datleaflet.pdf
Mr. Ibrahim Saeed, It’s not going to open a new door for the Maldives. it’s already making bad news in the international media. There are lots of opportunities to see wild happy dolphins here. I hate the whole touchy feely “humans-feeling-better- about- themselves- when they-touch- a- dolphin” crap. The dolphins don’t always like it and it is well known they kill their trainers on a regular basis but that does not get into the press much. Captive dolphins are easy to buy, but all this flies in the face of the current marketing phrase so not the right direction and could undermine the world’s perception of the “natural” offer here. You wanna see dolphins Mr. Ibrahim Saeed? Go out near Gaadhoo kolu or Fullmoon Resort or Paradise Resort. You will see lots. If you want to see them underwater….go diving and there are places in the Maldives where you can see them!
Read article : http://ecocare.mv/a-dolphin-park-or-a-dolphin-cage/ on ECOCARE Maldives …
Also join our campaign: “Don’t Cage Dolphins”
On Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/DontCageDolphins
Cheers
Mr. Ibrahim Saeed, there are lots of opportunities to see wild happy dolphins here. I hate the whole touchy feely “humans-feeling-better- about- themselves- when they-touch- a- dolphin” crap. The dolphins don’t always like it and it is well known they kill their trainers on a regular basis but that does not get into the press much. Captive dolphins are easy to buy, but all this flies in the face of the current marketing phrase so not the right direction and could undermine the world’s perception of the “natural” offer here.
There are lots of opportunities to see wild happy dolphins here in the Maldives. A lot of people hate the whole touchy feely “humans-feeling-better- about- themselves- when they-touch- a- dolphin” crap. The dolphins don’t always like it and it is well known they kill their trainers on a regular basis but that does not get into the press much. Captive dolphins are easy to buy, but all this flies in the face of the current marketing phrase so not the right direction and could undermine the world’s perception of the “natural” offer here.
I agree with Aminath Haleem, why doesn’t Amir Mansoor build a recreational facility in Hulhumale’ instead of on a lagoon and have dolphins.
I read a statement in Haveeru last night by Amir Mansoor clarifying the matter, saying that the Dolphins will be free to go in and out of the lagoon whenever they want. What bullshit is that?
Can’t believe the same person chartering dive boats to reef check eco-divers is involved in dolphin trafficking with the government’s approval !!!! The fact that these dolphins are imported from the Bahamas means that they cannot be `free to go in and out of the lagoon’. This guy is deluded and driven by nothing but greed!!!
please refer to Mansoor’s justiication for his case in this article- laughable!!!
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/38526
Scuba Tribe doesn’t really understand the issue. It is only creating irrational fear among Maldivians by only giving us a one-sided story.
Minivan News has brought the two sides of the story:
http://minivannews.com/environment/dolphin-lagoon-to-offer-conservation-education-recreation-27790
Sadly those who are behind Scuba Tribe have vested political interests but of course I don’t think ordinary Maldivians will be aware of it.
Yet another laughable, farcical attempt to dress up Mansoor’s and the Maldivian Government’s money-making venture. There is nothing educational or recreational about trafficked, captive-bred, non-native dolphins in enclosed lagoons. For real wildlife conservation, safeguard and manage their natural NATIVE habitat. DO NOT introduce alien species, a legacy I hope Mansoor family and the Maldivian Government would not want to be remembered for. We, the world at large, know better.
Mr crab, this goes far beyond the petty politics of blind human beings in this current point in time. This is about the consequences of this action which would echo down the history for the future generations of OUR PEOPLE.
According to Mark Berman of Earth Island Institute,”Introducing foreign dolphins in pens is also going to risk non native diseases to be spread to the wild dolphins of Maldives, plus if any escape these non native dolphins can cause genetic problems with the wild population.” How is this going to effect the rest of the ocean ecosystem? What problems is it going to cause for the future generations of Maldivians in terms of fishing and food on the table for them? Here’s some examples of what people have had to go through when foreign species are introduced into the native ecosystem.
http://www.gcrio.org/CONSEQUENCES/vol2no2/article2.html
Dear Mr. Crab or whoever you are, no one at Scuba Tribe have any political interest in this. We’re all divers here and we love our environment. No one in the dive industry whether local or international will agree on keeping dolphins captive. This is a stupid idea and business venture that Amir Mansoor is trying to do. The whole of the Maldives dive industry is going to to stand together against this. Even right now the international conservation organisations are already condemning it. I hope that the government will realise the mistake of giving permission to go ahead with crazy idea of Amir Mansoor.