Dear Source:
I applaud Mrs. Stuart’s zeal for animal rights. However, equally important in this debate are the rights of the employees of Coral World to their continued employment, and the right of Coral World to be profitable and continue operations in these difficult times.
Businesses in the Territory are struggling with skyrocketing WAPA costs and a burdensome gross receipts tax that increased 25 percent last year. Losing money is not sustainable and many companies have gone out of business in the territory. If Coral World is forced to close its doors and lay off 69 employees, it would be a devastating to our fragile island economy and the dedicated staff of Coral World and their families. St. Thomas would lose an iconic and beloved destination that will not be replaced.
We live in a world where families visit theme parks, zoos, aquatic parks and dolphin sanctuaries all the time. I have no doubt that Coral World is and will be dedicated to the highest standards of animal care. The dolphin exhibit at Coral World will introduce children and adults, residents and visitors to the beauty of these sea creatures. It will bring awareness to the vital importance of conservation and the protection of our marine environment and the oceans that surround us.
Filippo Cassinelli, St. Thomas
There is no way that these dolphin exhibits and SWD programs such as Coral World has plans for, in addition to their proposed breeding pen, can in any way be called “Sanctuaries!” They are more akin to daily torture chambers with plans to breed even more dolphins into dismal, sterile lives in captivity.
http://www.wspadonations.org/pages/2220_dolphins_in_captivity_faqs.cfm
From what I saw of Coral World’s employees at the CZM meeting, the majority of them were all white, stateside transplants who would go home or move on, if they were laid off. Why don’t more local people have those particular jobs?
By her own admission, Trudie Prior states that “Coral World has not made any money in 14 years.” What’s up with that? Either they do not know how to run such a business or they like the tax write-offs, the constant losses give them. The economy has not been bad for 14 years.
The so called education of adults and children about the unnatural, forced behaviors of captive dolphins kept in tiny, unnatural, sterile enclosures being trained by food deprivation to perform unnatural “tricks” and exhibit unnatural behaviors at their expense and Coral World’s profit is not education at all.
If Mr. Cassinelli really was concerned about bringing awareness about the vital importance of conservation and protection of our marine environment and the oceans that surround us, he would educate himself and oppose this project, whole heartedly.
There is a 76 page document titled “The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity” which was written by the Humane Society of the United States and the World Society for the Protection of Animals which is a MUST READ for those thinking that dolphins enjoy their lives in captivity. They state:
“The HSUS and WSPA believe that the entire captive experience for marine mammals is so sterile and contrary to even the most basic elements of compassion and humanity that it should be rejected outright.”
Here’s the link: http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/marine_mammals/case_against_marine_captivity.pdf
Please read it and educate yourself, Mr. Cassinelli. It should be required reading for all Coral World employees, as well.