Tourists OpposeDolphin Captivity Project
Dear Sir,
Please allow me to point out that the planto create a dolphin captivity project by the company, The LivingSea, on your beautiful island has already led to an internationalopposition among 2250 tourists coming from 30 different countriesworldwide (full protest signature package can be provided uponrequest) and among worldwide operating environmental groups onbehalf of more than 100,000 members and supporters who strictlyoppose that project.
There is no need to go into details about the plight of dolphinswho are forced to spend their lives in captivity - you will ofcourse be aware of these problems beginning from the cruel waysof capturing ending at the aggressive behaviour against otherdolphins and people who are allowed to swim with the dolphins.Numerous dolphin display parks had to close down in recent yearsin USA, Canada and UK because tourists more and more respect theenvironment and are not willing to choose a country as a holidaydestination, which is mis-using dolphins just for entertainment.
As anyhow these exhibitions do not provide any educational effects,people prefer other means of education and prefer to watch thedolphins in their natural surroundings. Dolphins in the wild spendtheir days with hunting fish, swimming miles per day and livingtogether in pods - none of this can be done by dolphins in captivityand therefore there is nothing more unnatural than dolphins incaptivity, that only are forced to eat dead fish and to performcircus tricks - the only reason for these performances is definitelyentertainment and just presented under the cloak of education.Countries that still do provide dolphins in captivity are moreand more the target for negative press.
Especially the eventual involvement of the RIMS Institute in thatproject causes additional concerns, as a lot of dolphins diedthere and during transports, during a hurricane in 1997 sevendolphins escaped, which is a violation of the letter of comity.Some of the dolphins provided by RIMS have been moved upwardsof 11 times to different facilities.
We therefore would sincerely ask you to keep the Cayman Islandsthe wonderful and unique islands and place in Paradise it hasbeen up to now, where tourists can spend their holidays withouthaving a bad conscience to contribute with their visits to theabuse of wild animals.
Please rest assured that all these tourists, who took the timeto speak out against that plan, are fond of the Cayman Islandsand are joined in their standpoint by family and friends. We areof the opinion, that especially in a time, where terror shocksour world, we should concentrate again on respecting each otherand respecting the most precious values we still have: our earthand our environment and therefore islands, who share this viewpointwill earn the highest respect worldwide.
As tourists are seeking places to stay far away from any formof violence regardless if shown against humans, nature or animalsthe decision to keep the Cayman Islands free from dolphins incaptivity will be the best success for a fruitful tourism.
Eva Schandl