NewsWhore
02-21-2007, 02:00 PM
Ocean World, the DR's leading entertainment park located in Puerto Plata, has distanced itself from accusations by Dominican environmentalists that it is complicit in the slaughter of dolphins in Japan. In a press release, Ocean World says that the Japanese have been slaughtering dolphins for food in Taiji and other villages for hundreds of years, and that no endangered or threatened species are taken. Ocean World explains that by purchasing the dolphins, they are saving the lives of animals that would otherwise be killed in the slaughterhouse. Stefan Meister, spokesman for the park, explains: "The animals destined for Ocean World were taken early out of the herding dolphins into coves or bays and do not witness the killing of their pod mates as the extremists would like you to believe."
He points out that the dolphins were in no way harmed during the collection, "as this would be counterproductive to selling animals to an aquarium which require healthy, strong and good looking animals. He explains that the animals selected for aquaria are taken to floating sea-pens by Taiji Whale Museum staff, while the ones not chosen for aquaria are killed for their meat by local fishermen.
Meister says that facilities like Ocean World allow people to experience dolphins up close and make people appreciate dolphins so that their existence in the wild can be guaranteed for future generations.
Meister stresses that the dolphins are content at Ocean World. "Ocean World has the largest man-made dolphin lagoon in the world, with a state of the art filtration system that provides clean water and an environment conducive to the reproduction of dolphins," he points out. "This is evidenced by the birth of the first dolphin baby in the Dominican Republic under human care, 'Lili' on August 21, 2006." Meister forecasts more births since the female dolphins are now reaching breeding age.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
He points out that the dolphins were in no way harmed during the collection, "as this would be counterproductive to selling animals to an aquarium which require healthy, strong and good looking animals. He explains that the animals selected for aquaria are taken to floating sea-pens by Taiji Whale Museum staff, while the ones not chosen for aquaria are killed for their meat by local fishermen.
Meister says that facilities like Ocean World allow people to experience dolphins up close and make people appreciate dolphins so that their existence in the wild can be guaranteed for future generations.
Meister stresses that the dolphins are content at Ocean World. "Ocean World has the largest man-made dolphin lagoon in the world, with a state of the art filtration system that provides clean water and an environment conducive to the reproduction of dolphins," he points out. "This is evidenced by the birth of the first dolphin baby in the Dominican Republic under human care, 'Lili' on August 21, 2006." Meister forecasts more births since the female dolphins are now reaching breeding age.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)