the following is a media release by ACRES:
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On 14 November 2011, representatives from ACRES, Earth Island Institute (EII) and the Philippines Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) visited Ocean Adventure in the Philippines to film training sessions of the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) wild-caught dolphins. It was, however, regrettable that staff members of the facility tried to prevent ACRES from filming the dolphins. The RWS wild-caught dolphins were filmed confined in small enclosures, and some have been housed there for almost three years. They were also filmed with basketballs and hula hoops.
Between 2008 and 2009, RWS damaged Singapore’s good international reputation by buying 27 wild-caught Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) from the Solomon Islands (who have since banned the export of live dolphins with effect from January 2012). In 2010, two of the dolphins died whilst undergoing training, despite the top-class care that RWS had promised. The remaining 25 wild-caught dolphins are currently being housed and trained at Ocean Adventure in The Philippines and will be transported to RWS soon.
ACRES, EII and PAWS purchased admission tickets to Ocean Adventure and entered the area opposite to where the remaining 25 RWS wild-caught dolphins were being housed. There were no signs indicating that this was a restricted area and none indicating that we were not allowed to film the RWS wild-caught dolphins.
“Initially, we were told we could remain in the area but were not allowed to film the dolphins. However, we were later politely told to leave the area and we were not allowed to film the dolphins, but could film anywhere else in Ocean Adventure. We did not hold any placards or hold any demonstration and remained civil throughout the entire time. We eventually left the area.
All we wanted to do was film the dolphins and witness the training sessions. If RWS has nothing to hide, why are members of the public not allowed to film the wild-caught dolphins?” said Ms. Christina Lee, Campaigns Officer of ACRES.
ACRES, EII and PAWS witnessed and filmed the trainers introducing basketballs and hula-hoops to the dolphins, something highly unnatural. We are puzzled by this as RWS has always maintained that they have no plans for animal shows.
Furthermore, RWS recently stated in their job advertisement that the Marine Mammal Specialist (Job ID 11912) responsibilities include “behavioral conditioning of the mammals for…show-type behaviors”. They, however, clarified that “the responsibilities of the marine mammal specialists include engaging in enrichment practices with the dolphins to display natural behaviors commonly seen in the wild…”.
“It is tragic to see these dolphins, who once roamed the vast open oceans, now having to resort to playing with basketballs and hula hoops. We hope that RWS provides the public with complete details with regard to how the dolphins are housed and trained and that they be truthful. ACRES remains committed to an open dialogue, but we regret that RWS have continued to decline to respond to all our concerns and have now prevented us from filming how the wild-caught dolphins are housed and trained” said Mr. Louis Ng, Executive Director of ACRES.
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Going by your principles, we may as well let all the animals in our Mandai Zoo and Night Safari go free and also the birds at the Jurong bird park and close all these attractions.
Like everyone else, I feel it is no different from animals in the zoo. But animals have different characteristics. Animals in zoo can survive captivity. However, that does not means captivity is right. Dolphins suffer physiological stress in captivity and will show abnormal behaviors like showing agression to other dolphins and banging their heads against the walls. The mortality rate will also be higher.
Concerned readers are grateful to ACRES for bringing the latest update on the fate of the captive dolphins. RWS has resorted to out-sourcing the training of these beautiful creatures to the Philippines. The reasons are pretty obvious. RWS wants to stop prying eyes and to save money in order to maximize profits. The poor dolphins were sold into slavery and are destined to entertain and titillate for the pleasure of humans.
Human beings are the ones most tortured to perform. Children have been pressured to pass exams. Many have committed suicide. Millions of workers throughout the world work in dangerous and unhealthy environments. One of China’s mines has just exploded killing many miners. Compared to their working environments, the captive dolphins are living in paradise. These activists claim that dolphins playing with basketballs is highly unnatural. Are gay men having sex not highly unnatural? Try saying that in the West and you will be charged for discrimination.
It’s senseless. Poor comparison. Living in a room for whole life is paradise?! As quoted by Abraham Lincoln, “I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.”
No to dolphins in captivity. Bringing them into captivity not only degrades them, it degrades us as well. Anyway, there will be lots of arguments against this dolphinarium, but in the end money talks…
For the love of dolphins, we all must care just enough to make an impact that will give the freedom back to all whales, dolphins and porpoises.
I hope this will knock some sense into people who use animals for their entertainment. RWS- an evil place that in my opinion is best to avoid.
They have all rights to ask ACRES to leave. Why should they give ACRES more material to work with?
Lets face the obvious. ACRES is 100% opposed to this. Video or no video, explanation or no explanation, facebook comments or no facebook comments.
When the situation is so polarised, when ACRES is so set in its ways, don’t expect the other party to “engage” it.
I think there are other cruelty to animals in Singapore that is really worthwhile to occupy ACRES time. Abuse of cats and dogs, birds , guinea pigs, rabbits etc in small cages. Investigate the condition animals are kept by pet shops. Then, if you have the time, investigate the dolphins kept by RWS.
The plight suffered by the dolphin is worth fighting for.
But do remember, people are like the dolphins too being held captive and deprived of their freedoms in exercising their rights and privileges currently against capitalist exploitations that drive people to desparations and even suicides.
It is time for people to start asking government for freeing up all the draconian controls imposed on the people for healthy and sustainable growth.
To those who concern of the dolphins captivity,they should boycott RWS,RW Genting,Star Cruise & Genting blue chips too.
This is very evil, dolphins should not be kept in captivity. Captive dolphins suffer. A person has to be completely heartless to be a part of such cruelty. Sad some people in this world still think this is acceptable… Wild and free is the way to go…
We don’t want to see dolphins in pools and aquariums. Horrific.
Then why not protest at underwater world , there are also sharks inside.. These people just want attract attention for the sake of protest …O.
I’m sorry but I don’t sympathise with ACRES/ PAWS/ IIE on this one. If you enter a park, you abide by rules, i.e. no photography in certain areas. Looking at it from the park’s perspective park, it is possible they have rules against photography/ video recording to protect their training packages from being copied by business competitors. Why a need for the organisations to pretend and play victim in this case?
Wah, ACRES ? If you really wanted to prove their mis-treatment, use a spy camera instead. Why make it so obvious unless you want to wayang.
Just like what the family of the elderlady at the old folks home. If they weren’t discreet, I’m pretty sure they would be told to leave too.
Try filming the training sessions of professional football clubs and you will be thrown out.
There is also the issue of copyright.
Acres, give up! There should be something better to do than knocking your thick head against …..
what about our SAF NS boys who are forced to waste two years of their life performing as part of the circus entourage called NDP?
Thanks ACRES for your stamina and continuous effort to highlight the plight of the dolphins. Much appreciation.
If I am a dolphin I will tell ACRES to go and mind their own business. Why pick on RWS? Why not Ocean Park Ocenarium? Why not Seaworld Gold Coast, Seaworld Tokyo? Seaworld Disneyland? And if they care about my fellow dolphins, why don’t the stop the ritual slaughter of my kind in Denmark and Japan? If I am a dolphin, I will tell ACRES “Come on ACRES leave me alone. I am enjoying life in a resort. I cannot compete with Man to fish for my food.”
We should change ourselves first, then the world can only be changed.
We can eat less meat, to save more animals lives.
We can stop visiting RWS.
Only when we stop, their sufferings will stop and animals killings and captivities will end.
It all started with Greed.
acres is doing a great job in educating the public in their limited ways and tight budget. we need to be constantly reminded that all are living creatures. zoos , bird parks are fine so long as they do not abuse these animals to shows . it is only the foolish people that will pay high admission prices to see dolphins playing balls and hula hoops which borders on humiliation. acres has compromised with rws that the dolphins will not be made to entertain in shows.
If there’s no demand, there’s no supply. Pure human greed for entertainment beyond what they can do for themselves. Sad, but isn’t reading a book or watching a movie just as fun? Also natural right?
ACRES is representing a segment of population. It doesn’t mean all should have the same cause/belief, or the capacity for some humans to empathise beyond the human race.
If this time round it’s another issue, there will always be THIS group of PPL coming out to ask ACRES to tackle other issues first and so on and so forth.
Why tackle this issue first? obviously because time is running out.
Y protesting against dolphins captivity when there’s so many issues to be protested is like saying why are you protesting against Acres campaign when there’s so many other issue for you to protest.
Some ppl obviously need to do some reading up to know the story before commenting.
-TNG KIM CHOON
Then y you’re picking on ACRES? Y not SPCA? Y not some other organisations? Did you even bother reading up on dolphins?
Think – did you even bother to read up on SPCA? Are u unaware of the things that they do for animal welfare? Go visit them and see what they do.
They are great. Was just stating an example. There’re so many issues to tackle. Why do ppl keep emphasizing on other issues when acres have one issue on hand. Ppl keep comparing with why this, why not that.
I just dont get it. A chicken can be cooped and slaughtered for a meal and fins can be ripped off from sharks for the sake of class status of a wedding but then a dolphin cannot be in captivity cos it causes dis stress to it. Dont they all go through some form of stress. While I want to applaud ACRES for doing what they do…but then should’t they go across aboard and incalcate this love for animals accoss all area. Zoo is an excellent example where animals constnaly lose their wild instinct and get constant stress in captivity. So hows does ACRE equate that. So ACREs pls explain their ideology on this for if not that it becomes all show.
Actually, you could go on to Acres page to take a look at some of the ongoing campaigns regarding your concerns.