NEWS: Cyber activists attack Araneta Center dolphin show ad

**ghosthunter** · November 19th, 2010 05:54 PM

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/new...olphin-show-ad

[SIZE="4"]Cyber activists attack Araneta Center dolphin show ad [/SIZE]
INQUIRER.net First Posted 14:57:00 11/19/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Araneta Center, for many years the site of many crowd-drawing Christmas events, is now under fire from animal rights and conservation activists for its plan to include a dolphin show among this year’s holiday activities.

Dubbed as a “Grand Dolphin and Sea Lion Show” and included in the suite of Christmas festivities which Araneta Center advertised early November, the planned dolphin show has since come under attack from various groups alleging it promotes animal cruelty and helps support the practice of capturing of dolphins from the wild.

According to Earth Island Institute, the show is set to feature two dolphins from Indonesia, to be exported to the Philippines by Indofil Sea Wonders Co Ltd. Construction of the temporary facility that will house the dolphin show is ongoing at the Araneta Center parking lot, near SM mall.

Earth Island Institute, along with Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, Bangon Kalikasan, Dolphins Love Freedom Network and other supporters, embarked on a social media campaign immediately after the release of the dolphin show advertisement, flooding the Araneta Center Facebook page with messages calling for the show’s cancellation.

“Dolphins in Araneta???” said a post by the Dolphins Love Freedom Network. “Maingay. Madumi. Masikip. (Noisy. Dirty. Cramped.)Definitely far from their natural habitat. How cruel can you get?”

“Dolphins do not belong to a parking lot even with the best facility and husbandry available,” wrote Nikki Finn, another Facebook supporter. “Let us not support enterprises that are irresponsible and unsustainable who are only after profits even if animals are exploited.”

The groups also called for Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala not to issue the import permit that will allow the transport of the dolphins into the country.

The Araneta Center Facebook page administrator consistently deleted all dolphin show-related posts on its wall, even as the messages kept coming in. After several days, the Facebook page was deactivated altogether by its administrator, with still no official statement from the Araneta Center.

According to Earth Island Institute, traveling dolphin shows like the one scheduled in Araneta are different from the bigger and more expensive ocean parks.

“The shallow pools where the animals are kept are treated heavily with chlorine as the animals urinate and defecate in the same pools where they perform,” the group said. “Dolphins performing in such shows actually go blind due to prolonged soaking in chlorinated water. The repeated transport of dolphins and other aquatic animals are particularly stressful as these animals have to be immobilized for the entire duration of the travel.”

The group also added that the cruel conditions fostered by these dolphin shows have prompted countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil and Nicaragua to ban such entertainment in their territories.

“There are certainly better ways to teach children about wild animals,” wrote environmental architect Anna Maria Gonzales. “The best Christmas gift we can give to our children is the gift of understanding and respect towards wild animals and the natural environment. If we stop these shows, we will give these animals a better chance to survive in the wild.”

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/new...olphin-show-ad