Ocean Sentry
(From timesofmalta.com)- The Mediterraneo Marine Park in Bahar in-Caghaq has been listed as one of seven cruel destinations by the largest animal rights organisation in the world. Dolphins in this type of programme were captured in the wild or imported from conflict-ridden countries, it said. They would never be able to swim in the vast oceans, and may become frightened by being constantly surrounded by clambering tourists. PETA said dolphin shows provided no educational benefit for the public – in fact, they taught children all the wrong lessons about wildlife – and the “swim with the dolphins” programmes were universally condemned as humans brought diseases to dolphins. “By confining them for eternity to tanks that are, to them, the size of a bathtub”.
PETA suggests an alternative – anyone who wants to get close to nature should take an approved dolphin and whale-spotting holiday and enjoy animals in their natural habitat: never by patronising aquariums and marine parks that involve stress, capture, close confinement and handling.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from Mediterraneo’s management proved fruitless.
(by Herman Grech)
