Six Extra Dolphins Supposedly Being Flown in, St. Kitts to Explore Captive Dolphin Facility
PHILIPSBURG:--- Dolphin Defenders St. Maarten has become increasingly concerned regarding the amount of businesses that are promoting the Captive Dolphin Facility on Anguilla on St. Maarten. Due to the efforts of Dolphin Defenders previous plans to establish a Captive Dolphin Facility on St. Maarten have ceased, however with the reopening of Captive Dolphin Facility in Anguilla many businesses are promoting an activity which should be banned. Dolphin Defenders is also concerned about reports that six extra dolphins have been transported to Anguilla to be held captive in captivity pens which are already too small for the current population. Additionally there are also concerns that neighboring St. Kitts, despite negative International Attention, is also exploring the opening of a captive dolphin facility, something which the international community significantly disagrees with.
"We cannot endorse or support local businesses which actively promote what amounts to the enslavement and exploitation of an animal that is self-aware and sentient. Dolphins are not made to be in an enclosed pen; these are animals that travel up to hundreds of miles a day. Dolphins which are kept in Captivity are done so in very bad conditions, with many of the animals showing horrific injuries and living a fraction of what they would in the wild. Dolphins living in captivity often also show social problems and neurotic behavior which results in aggression to both fellow dolphins and to the humans that train them and the humans that pay money in order to swim with them," read a Dolphin Defender statement.
The organization further states that, although the people of Anguilla should decide on an activity which is morally wrong and exists for the sole purpose of economic gain through exploitation, they were disappointed to see companies actively promote the Captive Dolphin Program in Anguilla on St. Maarten and St. Martin; "having a Captive Dolphin Facility on St. Maarten and promoting one on Anguilla or on St. Kitts for that matter is essentially the same thing; it is based on the exploitation of a majestic creature for the economic benefit of greedy individuals and we urge the companies that do promote these programs to reconsider. The tourist high season coincides with the time of year where many dolphins and whales are passing through our waters, and we encourage businesses to invest in whale and dolphin watching trips where you can meet the animals on their own terms instead of in an artificial pool or pen which is essentially a prison environment," stated Dolphin Defenders.
The increase in captive dolphins for Anguilla and the supposed plan for a facility in St. Kitts comes amidst strong international opposition to keeping dolphins in captivity. Captive Dolphin Parks and the communities that condone them are experiencing negative press through international pressure groups and movies such as blackfish and the Cove; "We urge that Governments consider a program where education and conservation of wild cetaceans including whales and dolphins is the focus, instead of captive programs which are both inherently dangerous to the animals and the people that frequent them," concluded a Dolphin Defenders statement.
