Letter to the Editor

So Cayman, how many reasons are we up to now?

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

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Reader comments:

• I wrote this before, but it appears it needs addressing again. I already know I'll be considered a coward by staying anonymous, but hear me out because I'm about to give a very different view than that of Maria Schvartz and my need for anonymity will be obvious:
  
  Those who oppose the dolphin habitat are hypocrites. Why do people think that the Turtle Farm is somehow morally okay, but the proposed dolphin habitat is not? Does anybody ever consider the fact that about 40% of the endangered turtles that they visit are going to be EATEN? Nobody is going to eat the dolphins! Captive dolphins also live LONGER than those left in the wild. That is a fact. They are given regular meals and medical care that their wild counterparts do not get. Additionally, it's widely known that mammals given the chance to learn new skills and exercise their mental capacity (which is a part of every dolphin program) are healthier than wild animals, exhibit less stress, form lasting emotional bonds with their human trainers and live longer.
  
  As long as the dolphin habitat is large enough to not cause any physical stress to the animals, I'm all for it. Not to mention that it will bring much needed revenue to the island.
  
  People need to get off their moral high horse and see any responsible dolphin program for what it really is. It's not a killing field! Too many self-proclaimed "ecological activists" have jumped on this bandwagon to denounce the dolphin program and not even know what they are talking about! NONE of these people have worked this hard towards stopping any dredging of North Sound! NONE of them have protested the building of the West Bay cruise pier which could kill the fragile reef system and fish habitat! They also use this dolphin program to (conveniently) take a swipe at the government and bring up entirely non-related complaints. One argument does not validate the other.
  
  Sorry, but I'm frustrated with people getting in the way of this island's financial progress and I think this dolphin facility, if handled with care, can be a win-win situation for everybody, including the dolphins - Anonymous

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