Protest against plans for a dolphinarium
http://www.amigoe.com/english/
Dolphins belong in the open water and not in captivity to entertain people.
ORANJESTAD – In a letter to the editor, directed to the ministers of Milieu and Finance and Economic Affairs, respectively Booshi Wever and Nilo Swaen (both MEP) and to the owners of De Palm Tours, Giolina Henriquez of Aruba Marine Mammal Foundation (AMMF) asks to abandon the plans to create a dolphinarium on De Palm Island. The Dolphin Academy in Curacao is also involved in the plans.

According to a spokesperson of De Palm Tours, the plans are still in a very early stadium. A lot of research on the feasibility and conditions are needed before the plans can be concretized. That will take a lot of time and till then, the company won’t give any comments.

Henriquez explains in her letter that dolphins are very intelligent and beautiful animals that are actually not suitable to live in captivity. That has to do with the fact that dolphins live in family groups. It is therefore very difficult for them to associate with other dolphins.

It is unacceptable for AMMF that the animals are caught, just because people want to make money on dolphins. They belong in open waters and not in basins for shows for the pleasure of people.

Dolphins are highly developed animals and there are examples where dolphins help safe people in distress. AMMF proposes to reverse roles and safe dolphins and definitely do not keep them in captivity just for making money. AMMF asks the government not to grant a permit for the plans and to have family Malmberg, owners of De Palm, to abandon their plans, especially because the United Nations has proclaimed 2007 as the year of the dolphin.

Same as whales, dolphins are known for being very intelligent and social animals. They have relatively big brains and from research conducted by the St. Andrews University in Scotland, dolphins call each other with a characteristic whistle sound, which is different per animal. The researchers compare this with people using names. Dolphin populations are worldwide threatened by suffocation in fishnets, because their living area gets threatened. Also the shipping and the use of marine sonar is a threat. At this moment, there is a virus active in the Mediterranean that threats the dolphin population.

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Thank you for posting this Lisa. The Depalm company is doing this for one reason - profit! They want to exploit these beautiful animals so they can make money. These animals deserve to be free not locked up in prison to perform for tourists. I am personally going to boycott any and all of their programs and activities. And I will discourage anyone I come in contact with from using any of their activities until I hear that they are no longer pursuing this project. I encourage all of you to do the same. I will not recommend them and will comment on any message about activities that they are involved with to discourage people from using their boats, buses, tours, and will tell anyone who listens - not to go to DePalm Island. They have already ruined the coral on Depalm Island so badly that it will never come back. Leave these animals alone! Don't do this! If they start to realize that they are losing money they will stop. Hit them in their pocketbooks - it is the only way. And to those of you who think this is a good idea - would you want your children to be separated from you and locked up in a small tank being pushed to perform for someone else's entertainment? No, of course not. So don't take this lightly. Discourage Depalm from doing this. OK - I am stepping off the soap box now....Cheryl

I just saw where the dohpins come from on TV, the Japanese catch them and sell them. The rest of them get killed. We in the Netherlands also have a Dolphinarium and i'm ashamed of it. Let's be real, whem people (morrons ) keep comming to see them in a large swimming pool, some crimminals wil keep hunting them down and sell them.

Keep them in the ocean, and not on Aruba in a pool.

For photo's of our trips we took in 2007 & 2008 to Aruba, visit our site at: http://www.kingpin-angel.eu/

You are quite right Kingpin. There are many articles on this topic.
The bays of these small Japanese towns actually turn RED from the blood of the Dolphins that are being slaughtered!

Joe B

The only morrons are those who know about how these creatures are handled and dont let others know. I have gone and enjoyed the shows but now that this has been brought up I have looked into it and I also will not go. Im no morron just uninformed. So dont be so quick on the name calling. If you are so strong on this start getting the word out..!..

De Palm.......Shame on you ,arent you making enough money on everything you have,tranportation,tours,watersports,and even an island!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!May be time for a boycott.......

I think that most people are not morrons, just uneducated about holding dolphins and all other mammals & animals in captivity. It is absolutely all about making money nothing more. Before I became aware of how awful & inhumane it was to treat marine life in captivity I loved to go to places like Sea World, swimming with the dolphins etc. I no longer visit or partake in those activities, I do my best to educate people.

I'm sorry Bill. I did not mean to agree with the part about the people who go being morons.
We are being kept uniformed on purpose.
And yes I have sent many e-mails protesting this and other needless slaughters.
Please send me any information or links you have and I will post this on the http://www.scubaboard.com forum page. Hopefully they will also send e-mails in protest.

Joe B

Srry mate for the strong language, srry if you felt offended. I just get mad about these places and get a little worked up. So take a look at this and tell me you stay calm, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDxxRAvfKjU . If i get people to take a better look at these places and find out the truth about them by posting a little on this forum its oke with me. The guys how wanna open up this abomination are just in for the cash and that's pissing me off.
So again i apologize to you Bill and everyone who i offended.

For photo's of our trips we took in 2007 & 2008 to Aruba, visit our site at: http://www.kingpin-angel.eu/

Thanks for the apology and a bigger thanks for opening my eyes. I hate to say it but I never gave it a thought how they got there or if they are happy. You have my support!!!! The past couple hours I have been researching and it just floors me. Never know, we might bump into each other in Aruba at the place that was going to house the Dolphins. It will be a bar and a much happier place. The first of many rounds will be on me. 14 trips and heading in December. Good luck!