Dear Source:
During this holiday season it behooves all of us to take the time to reflect on the quality of life for all people and animals in our community.
Unfortunately, we are plagued by too much abuse aimed especially towards women, children and animals. If we are to consider ourselves a humane society, we must pledge to commit ourselves to combating this problem on all fronts, each and every day.
Of specific note is the pending application by Coral World for a CZM permit to construct a Dolphinarium featuring captive Dolphins. No matter how much Coral World’s owner/general manager, curator, employees, families, friends, business/tourism associates, and nonprofit organizations spin and endorse this concept, it is simply inhumane to bring captured or born in captivity Dolphins into an unnatural, confined setting, and be forced to perform unnatural tricks in unnatural daily shows. It is not too much of a stretch to ask humans to place themselves in the proposed position of these majestic, intelligent mammals and contemplate if this is a suitable environment within which to exist. The public should not confuse the entertainment use of these Dolphins for an education source.
Just as Coral World’s promise to improve its financial position with the exhibition of sea lions did not materialize, the same result is easily predictable with the showing and breeding of captive Dolphins in diminutive pens. Furthermore, the devastating negative impact on the environment in the Water Bay area is an apparent reality.
If you do indeed care about a better, more humane St. Thomas, it is not too late to do what is right by actively taking a stand against Coral World’s proposed Dolphinarium. Happy Holidays!
Dellia Holodenschi, St. Thomas
Did you know:
Cetaceans’ brain as a matter of fact contain spindle cells, the type of cell in humans responible for giving us complex speech, strong emotions and empathy. In whales and dolphins the concentration of these was even found to be 3x as high as humans. Above that, their brains are a lot bigger.
(source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10661-whales-boast-the-brain-cells-that-make-us-human.html)
There is more than just anatomic evidence.
Dolphins are also self aware; cetaceans are the only species apart from humans that can think about thinking, and possesing self-awareness.
(source: http://news.discovery.com/animals/dolphins-smarter-brain-function.html)
Other recent researches state cetaceans have cultures, their own names, accents, dialects, can teach each other, and deserve rights as non-human persons.
That alone would be reason to keep them free, in the wild and wonderful ocean, where they belong.
Mllb
I must compare the conditions under which captive dolphins would live in a 2 acre pen in stt to those which Golden Grove prisoners endure. Yes, prisoners are fed, given necessary medical care, given regulated opportunities for socialization, have regulated recreation, at the wardens’ command. The only difference is that the GG prisoners were incarcerated for crimes. The dolphins’ only crime is that they are majestic, intelligent creatures!