Letter to the Editor

With a dolphin park on its way, has ‘Freedom’ really died in Cayman?

Friday, April 2, 2004

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Reader comments:

• The miscalculation by investors and government that believe Cayman will benefit from a captive dolphin program is disturbing. This government has shown the wisdom and maturity in the recent past to reverse themselves when public opinion convinced them that the proposed governmental solution to a particular problem was misguided. I refer to the fishing license issue where the governmental plan was reversed after much public outcry. The divers who come to Cayman to spend their hard earned money are by the nature of the sport interested in marine conservation. For Cayman to posture themselves as leaders in the scuba diving industry and take such a short sighted and commercial based decision is truly mistaken. I could see the massive Cayman exhibit at a future DEMA trade show being picketed by dolphin conservation groups or worse. To continue to pander to the massive cruise ship tourists at the expense of the stayover and residents is a mistake. Government officials please reconsider your support for this misguided project - Anonymous
  
   
• What a shortsighted tragedy it would be if the Cayman Islands succumb to the cheap lure of easy money gained at the expense of one of the most intelligent creatures on the planet. Because we have the power to carry out an action doesn't mean we have the right to do so. A community or country shows its collective character by the way in which it treats less powerful groups, or in this case defenseless animals, under its control. The act of capturing and imprisoning dolphins would say a lot about Caymanian society. Is it an enlightened first world country populated by humane, educated people or a place where the desire for a quick buck takes precedence over everything else? Cayman the choice is yours and the world at large will be watching - Bruce McWilliams
  
   
• I feel compelled to respond to Helene O'Barry's letter. Her description of the massacre in Japan is horrifying! I will assume that what she says is true and not exaggerated for effect. I will also assume that she somehow knows that some of the participants in this massacre were Dolphin Trainers. However, I find that hard to believe. I have been a Dolphin Trainer for many years and I don't know anyone who would ever support such a scene!
  
  Most Dolphin Trainers have dedicated their lives to protecting dolphins and their environments. Most Dolphin Trainers have college degrees in Psychology, Marine Biology, Zoology or related field. They generally spent many, many hours volunteering at animal facilities or rehabilitation centers before finally being hired at a Dolphin facility. Of course, then they spend a long time just cleaning decks and equipment before finally being allowed the honor of being promoted into the fish house. It is generally quite some time later before they finally get to start working with the actual dolphins!!
  
  Trust me, being a Dolphin Trainer is not about making money, but a passion for the animals and a desire to educate the public regarding these amazing animals. It is a great feeling to know that someone who had a chance to see or even touch a dolphin for the first time may feel emotionally touched enough to go home and make a difference by supporting habitat conservation, protecting streams, lakes and rivers, etc. Our hope is that by introducing people to a dolphin, we are potentially aiding in the preservation of our planet!
  
  Why do you think so many people are passionate about dolphins who have never even seen an ocean? They have seen them in oceanariums! Why were we able to get the support of the vast majority of the public to restrict tuna fishing practices? Because people have an intense love of dolphins based on seeing them in oceanariums!
  
  By allowing people from all over the world to experience dolphins on your beautiful island surrounded by your beautiful ocean, you will be leaving an emotional mark in their heart that will lead them to make environmentally responsible decisions regarding recycling, reducing waste, automobile emissions, littering, conservative use of our natural resources, etc!!
  
  I believe that Helene O'Barry loves dolphins. But let me assure you, so do Dolphin Trainers! I think we just have a difference of opinion on what is the best way to get the majority of the world's human population to want to preserve our planet and the wonderful creatures who we share this planet with!! - Dolphin Trainer
  
   
• I have always wanted to "swim with the dolphins" until I read this article. After hearing how traumatized these poor animals are, I will never feel the same again. Just as I never attended another circus after I found out how those poor animals were mistreated, I will never endeavor to "swim with the dolphins." Thank you for publishing this article and making (well-meaning) people like me aware of what is truly behind these programs - Debbie Martin
  
   
• I think the Cayman Islands Government has made yet another terribly wrong decision in supporting the establishment of a dolphin park in Cayman. Dolphins are not indigenous creatures in Cayman's environment. To introduce a foreign element into our fragile environment will upset the natural balance put in place by our Creator.
  
  It has been proven that the waste from dolphins kill the coral reefs. Can this possibly be the reason why Mother Nature did not naturally place dolphins in Cayman? Our Creator has a way of achieving a balance in Nature. To change that mix will be to our detriment, not our good.
  
  Money is not everything. If we kill the coral reefs, what do we have left? I hope those in power realise that the beach and our pristine waters and our coral reefs are among the few natural resources given to us. For Heaven's sake, let’s stop destroying the few natural attractions we have!
  
  Once again, I have to ask the question: Who are we developing for? The money goes overseas, the labour has to be imported… how much of the profits stay in Cayman? What’s the point of damaging our fragile environment to improve the lives of a few Cayman fat cats and a lot of expatriate workers? - Direct Current
  
   
• I think it's terrible to even think about doing this. I have been coming to the Islands since 1980 and you have prided yourself in leaving things in the ocean. And now you are going to capture dolphins to make more money. What the almighty dollar has done to the Cayman Islands. I've seen so much of it over the last 24 years. It's such a shame - Sherry
  
   
• I spent four years living on Grand Cayman. During that time, I met many people whose love of the natural environment and the beauties of the natural world had seen their island paradise progressively destroyed by greed. And now a Dolphin Park? I would like to know whose hand is behind this monstrosity -- whose pockets will be lined? Caymanians and expats alike would appear to be against this idea, and Government should listen. Not all cruise-ship tourists want to watch dolphin-shows -- if they do, they can more cheaply find them on mainland USA. I am advised that dolphins are NOT indigenous to the waters off Cayman, though they do infrequently swim past (as did Freedom's pod) -- is it right to import such an animal just to pander to the whim of some money-grubbing entrepreneur? I had hoped to revisit Cayman in the future. If this idea bears fruit, I will not set foot on Cayman again, nor will I encourage anyone else to do so - Terri Beckett
  
   
• This article sickened me. I am a dolphin lover and dream of working with these amazing creatures. Just as the pure awe that the dolphin leaves me in, reading about the slaughter, with trainers involved no less, brought tears to my eyes. I have been exploring where to go so I can "swim with the dolphins", perhaps I don't want to do this now. I would love to make a career change to work with these animals. I know it's hard and a lot of dirty work is involved in order to get your way to trainer. I would do it out of sheer respect, love and devotion for these animals. Someone needs to stop this ridiculous slaughter. What justification is there? All I can think of is wanting to sink a few of those slaughter ships. However, in my eyes, the dolphin is an animal of tranquility, peace and knowledge. They would probably not condone such violence even against their enemy - Keith
  
   
• I agree totally. People say they love dolphins so don't they deserve to be free. What captive whales and dolphins go through is something we could never understand. We put dolphins through hell and say we love them - Rebecca Watts

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