45-Year-Old Dolphin Recovering from Cancer Forced to Perform in Aquatic Park

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/45-year-old-dolphin-recovering-from-cancer-forced-to-perform-in-aquatic-park.html

Alex A. KecskesNovember 20, 20141:40 pm



Many petitions featured on Care2 address national and international issues. A small, but targeted petition can have tremendous impact on animal rights. Please sign the petition to ensure that dolphins in Australia are treated with dignity and compassion.

Would You Want to Perform with Cancer?

While many people enjoy watching these beautiful sea creatures perform their incredible water acrobatics, it seems one water park in Australia is pushing the boundaries of animal welfare. At Dolphin Marine Magic, Bucky, a 45 year-old dolphin in cancer remission is still made to perform in demeaning entertainment shows twice a day, 365 days a year. While the tourist park says it promotes conservation, there is strong evidence to suggest that it’s in violation of its exhibit license.

A Rehab and Rescue Facility?

Dolphin Marine Magic says it’s functioning as a rehab and rescue facility. But the park admits it lacks the space to take in sick or injured dolphins—a legal requirement under the NSW Dolphin Standards. Even the dolphin’s pool size falls well short of legal specifications. Which begs the question: why does Dolphin Marine Magic still allow dolphins to breed in its park, an activity that ensures whole new generations of dolphins to be born into captivity.

A Lifetime of Exploitation

While two of the dolphins at the park were originally rescued from the wild, another four have been bred into a lifetime of exploitation. These beautiful sea creatures are forced to perform in demeaning shows, swim with and kiss strangers, and even give members of the public “rides.” Underscoring this exploitation is simple greed. The Australian recently published an expose of Dolphin Marine Magic as being “driven by profit, not conservation.” The park’s CEO Paige Sinclair, responded by saying, “Every park in Australia that has any sort of animal would use it for conservation research, but also to entertain.”

Existing License Violated, New License Issued

FULL story and a petition below this story.

[NYC_SKP]

1. They claim to be helping marine mammals, just like Sea World. The pukes.

[Daemonaquila]

2. This is such a load of crap.

This story is laughable from the first question.

Would I want to perform with cancer?

Absolutely, as long as I was able and not seriously ill at the time from chemo, etc.

Would I want to perform if I had cancer in remission, like this dolphin?

Hell, yes.

The touchy-feely, no-science, all-emotion nonsense has to stop. An animal can not be "forced" to perform. If an animal is unwilling, it won't do it. Period.

There is nothing demeaning about animals playing or willingly working for treats in front of humans. The "tricks" that they are taught are based on natural behaviors. It's stimulating - unlike swimming around the same tank all day with little to do.

I've dealt with animals in rehabilitation and educational programming settings. You can't put an angry, unwilling, or mentally unprepared animal into a program, or you will have major problems including human injuries. The animals that remain in programs are willing, even eager, to do and see new things. When you have multiple animals of the same type in a program, who have the same skills, in many cases the one you put on display that day is the one that comes to you most eagerly before the show when presented with the standard stimulus.

So please, stop lying. PETA and similar animal "welfare" organizations rarely have staff who know and educate from a standpoint of biology or behavioral science - they just know how to lie and shed tears like televangelists. Any misinformation will do as long as it gets them press time and dollars.

[Omaha Steve]

3. So this is rehab?

Just curious.

[Animal Vego]

4. Agree with Load Of Crap!!

So good to hear a voice of reason! I've been following the 'debate' about this place and it's actually just a one-sided agenda from a couple of organisations wanting to get some headlines. I've also heard it's about a shareholder wanting to realise the value of the land as $$ and so close it down. And I've also heard that same person has an idea to turn it into a rescue and rehab centre only to do so would mean having to get rid of the current animals! How ridiculous is that. As a former journalist I am appalled at the imbalance in articles about this issue. Animals in human care - born or rescued (let's be clear I do not agree with animals that are bought) - need enrichment and stimulation. The worst thing you can do for them is leave them untrained and unoccupied and without human contact. As for releasing these sorts of animals back to the ocean…I'd rather see them euthanised for the horrible death some of them would endure. There's a reason they are in human care. And don't get me started on real cruelty to animals (these animals are not treated cruelly) which involves battery hens and farmed pigs for food. If pigs were as cute as dolphins…they'd all be campaigning to release them into the wild - the least we can do for those poor animals is give them comfortable conditions during their short lives.