PROTECT NURTURE RESTORE AUSTRALIANS FOR
an ma s
AUGUST 2015 NEWSLETTER
Reg. Charity No. CFN12644
PO Box 414, Brunswick Heads 2483 Australia Tel: 61 2 6680 3674 Fax: 61 2 6680 3612 Email: suearnold@linknet.com.au
THEIR DOLPHINCRISIS INNATURAL AFA has always come to the aid of dolphins. Many years ago we were successful in stopping SeaWorld Australia from capturing wild dolphins in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Dolphins that were taken out of the ocean and drugged with valium so they could be taken to the Gold Coast dolphin prison where they were taught to entertain the public in return for lots of money going into the SeaWorld pockets. You may remember that the Senate Select Commi ee on Animal Welfare – all those years ago – made a recommenda on that all dolphin prisons in Australia be closed down and that no more of these dreadful places should be given approvals by any state government. There's two dolphin prisons that survive. SeaWorld on the Gold Coast and the Coffs Harbour Porpoise Pool which has been re-named Dolphin Magic. AFA has visited with SeaWorld many mes over the years and for now, we're pu ng any campaign against SeaWorld in the “ too hard “ basket. Trevor Long and his team have risked
their lives over and over again to rescue entangled whales and dolphins. Although A FA s t r e n u o u s l y opposes the keeping of dolphins in cap vity, the pools at SeaWorld cannot possibly be compared with the Coffs Harbour situa on. We have to focus our concerns at this stage on the Coffs Harbour prison which is a shocking indictment of the NSW government's a tude to dolphins. Six dolphins suffer daily shows seven days a week. According to their website, “Every visitor has the opportunity to be kissed by a seal, and get a kiss from a dolphin “. And worse – “A marine discovery presenta on features both seals and dolphins performing together in a show that is
AFA OPPOSES KEEPING DOLPHINS IN CAPTIVITY
HUGGING AND KISSING IMPRISONED DOLPHINS FOR ENTERTAINMENT IS ALL ABOUT $$$.
highly interac ve with g u e st s g i v e n m a ny opportuni es to be i nvo l v e d … t h e presenta on also endeavours to educate guests about the wonders of these marine animals, their habits and their importance of their con nued existence. The presenta on concludes with a pat and play session at the side of the pool where all guests have the chance to touch a dolphin and perhaps ckle their belly as they swim by.” Con nued Overleaf...
Photo: Gwen McKenna
THEY BELONG
HABITAT Blind Freddy knows that “hugging and kissing” dolphins does not cons tute any kind of normal behaviour. Nor does ckling bellies or foot push, or being pushed on a body board. This is a terrible lesson to give to children who should be taught that dolphins belong in their natural habitat. Six dolphins suffer this exploita on. The six include a rescued male and female plus four cap ve bred dolphins. This is a shocking depriva on of normal behaviour for dolphins, and the poten al for in-breeding is also a concern. Although contracep ves may be used, and/or dolphin sperm used to inseminate breeding females, the en re natural cycle of sexual ac vity, giving birth and intense socialisa on is destroyed. It's not as if people can't see dolphins in the wild. There's plenty of opportuni es and it's a wonderful experience to see these majes c animals surfing the waves. Our Co-ordinator swims in the ocean every day of the year and one of the most wonderful experiences is the joy of seeing w i l d d o l p h i n s n e a r b y. Some mes really close.
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noisyoceans.org
Australians for Animals
Continued
AUGUST 2015 NEWSLETTER
DOLPHINS BELONG IN
This kind of animal exploita on has nothing to do with conserva on or teaching the public anything about marine animals, their habits or the importance of their con nued existence. Dolphins belong in the ocean, they are not toys for humans to play with. Their imprisonment is a total contradic on of any “conserva on” lessons. You can imagine how many humans have “ ckled the belly of wild dolphins as they swim by.” More than 350,000 people world wide have signed a Change.org pe on to close down the Bali Wake Resort where four dolphins are kept in a similar miserably small pool, coping with heavily chlorinated water and un-natural food – dead fish. In this pool, paying par cipants are encouraged to kiss and hug dolphins. More on this dreadful place later in the newsle er but there's not much difference between these two places. Yet one a racts over 350,000 pe on signatures and the other is seemingly ignored. At the Coffs prison, the dolphins are heavily exploited. Once a pass is bought, the public gets “Free seal and dolphin kisses.” And.. “ People who desire can pat and play with dolphins before and a er the “ Marine Magic Presenta on “. But wait, there's worse to come. “ The Ul mate Dolphin Experience is a deep water encounter like no other in Australia!! This experience takes place in small groups of no more than 4 par cipants. Not only will you observe the dolphin swimming both above and below the surface of the 2 . 5 m d e e p w a t e r, y o u r experience also features an in mate deep water hug between you and your new friend. Your ac on packed experience will leave you speechless being propelled across the water whilst riding a body board, an unforge able accompanied swim across the water and a dizzying hand spin.” Australians for Animals
The ul mate dolphin experience includes: • 20 minutes in the water, interac ng with one of our curious and playful dolphins • A foot push, accompanied swim, hand spin, hug and swim with masks • Learning about your dolphin's personal history, natural biology and conserva on in a hands on learning experience • 1 professional photograph of your dolphin hug (8x12) If that doesn't appeal, then there's –
The Private Ul mate Dolphin experience. A private Ul mate Dolphin Experience features all the fun and excitement of the Ul mate Dolphin Experience in a private se ng with just you and your family and friends to share for 4 par cipants to a maximum of 5 total, extra person a racts a cost of $230.00 above the standard package price. Off Peak Season (Outside all NSW School Holidays except the June/July School Holidays) $370.00 pp $1260.00 (Private) Peak Season (All NSW School Holidays*) $420.00 pp $1460.00 (Private) Or if that doesn't appeal, what about :-
Off Peak Season (Outside all NSW School Holidays except the June/July Holidays) $195.00 pp $660.00 (Private) Peak Season (All School Holidays*) $220.00 pp $810.00 (Private) “Par cipants will join us on a journey into the dolphin's environment and learn about the personal histories behind our dolphin family as some of
the amazing biology and conserva on of these intelligent mammals. The experience also features play with dolphin with various games and toys, including the chance to view our dolphin below the water while wearing a mask, the chance to feed your dolphin and an opportunity for both a kiss and hug (professional photograph taken of hug). “
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITES
Private Shallow Dolphin Experience This fun experience features all the play and learning of the shallow water experience in a private group se ng. For a g ro u p o f u p to 4 p e o p l e (maximum of 6 people at an addi onal cost) this is ideal for families with young children or for the young at heart.
australiansforanimals.org.au greatbarrierreef.org.au noisyoceans.org
AUGUST 2015 NEWSLETTER
Photo: Gwen McKenna
THE OCEAN
DOLPHIN FACTS FROM SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY
Biology of Bo lenose Dolphins • Dolphins are warm-blooded marine mammals and breathe air. • Dolphins can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes. • Dolphins are carnivorous and feed on a variety of sea life, including fish and squid. • A layer of fa y ssue under the skin, called blubber, maintains the dolphin's body heat. This layer of fat also provides an important energy source. • Dolphins have very good eyesight both above and below the water. • Following a gesta on period of 12months, dolphins give birth to live young. • A bo lenose dolphin calf will drink milk for at least 6 months and remain with its mother for up to 4 years. • Age of maturity varies between genders, with female bo lenose dolphins reaching maturity between 8-10 years and males between 1012 years of age. • Inshore bo lenose dolphins can grow between 1.9 to 3.9m and weigh between 150-650kg. • Dolphins can live for over 50 years. Dolphin Socie es • Dolphins are very social animals and live in complex socie es that can o en be sexually segregated
and have a dominance hierarchy. • Groups of inshore bo lenose dolphins usually range between 110 individuals in size. • Mature males may form a strongly bonded alliance with at least four other males. • Females live in large groups and maintain a large network of associates within their home range. • Dolphins display many different types of behaviours including leaping, surfing, bow riding, and tail-slapping. • Bo lenose dolphins range throughout temperate and tropical waters throughout the worlds oceans. Communica on • Dolphins produce a diverse range of sounds that include echoloca on or sonar clicks, whistles, burst pulse sounds such as 'squawks' and 'squeaks'. • 'Whistles' are thought to be used to maintain contact, iden fy, and to locate other dolphins. • 'Clicks' are used for echoloca on, assis ng in naviga on and feeding. • Burst-pulse sounds not only assist in foraging and deciphering details about targets such as fish and other prey, but also have communica ve func ons. Li le is known about the use of this diverse group of sound types produced by dolphins
BALI WAKE RESORT AFA is disgusted to learn of the plight of four wild dolphins incarcerated in a ny pool within cooee of the ocean at Bali. We were more than happy to support the global pe on organised by Australian surfer Craig Brokensha and at the me of wri ng , nearly 400,000 people have signed on their protest over the treatment of the dolphins, calling for their release.
AFA swung into ac on. As a founding member of the Cetacean Freedom Network (CFN), a global coali on of an cap vity organisa ons world wide, we generated a sign on le er to the Indonesian A m b a s s a d o r i n C a n b e r ra , protes ng the Wake Resort's treatment of dolphins.
“His Excellency Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, 17thJuly, 2015 Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia, 8 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla. 2600. Your Excellency, We respectfully request your assistance in contacting the relevant Minister(s) in the Indonesian government to ensure the release of four wild dolphins currently held in a tiny pool in the Wake Bali Resort. The pool measures l0 x 20 m and is heavily chlorinated. Keeping dolphins in a pool this size could be compared with shutting a human being in a closet. Their incarceration is cruel and causes dolphins immense suffering. Dolphins are intelligent, social and migratory animals. Captivity is socially isolating, stressful and prohibits their movement and natural behaviour. High levels of chlorine in pools can cause blindness in dolphins. We believe there is a strong likelihood these dolphins will develop eyesight problems if continually kept in these conditions. We note that the Wake Bali Resort advertises the following “dolphin activities” on its website. Foot massage with dolphins; Back massage with dolphins; Dance with dolphins; Swim with dolphins; dolphin kiss; feeding with dolphin; handshake with dolphin. None of these interactions are educational or natural. Dolphins do not kiss humans or massage feet or backs and they do not dance or handshake humans in the wild. There is always a danger of humans passing disease to dolphins by kissing the animals. We note that 2 years ago, the Minister for Forestry, Minister Zulkii Hasan closed a similar resort situation and pledged to close other pools where captive dolphins are kept. Since that time, a purpose built ocean sanctuary has been built to rehabilitate captive dolphins, yet it remains empty. We are certain that the Indonesian government is conscious of the need to protect oceans. It is important to teach people that the best way to learn about dolphins, whales and other marine mammals is to see them in the ocean, their natural habitat. In many countries now, keeping dolphins in captivity is banned as governments and regulators are aware that this practice is cruel and has no educational value. We would be most grateful for your urgent assistance in this matter. The organisations that have signed on to this letter are listed below. They represent millions of people who are concerned for the welfare of dolphins who belong in the ocean.”
More than 30 organisa ons world-wide signed on. It was an amazing response and AFA followed up with a request for a mee ng with the Indonesian Ambassador. At the me of wri ng, in spite of many phone calls and promises of confirma on of a mee ng, AFA is s ll wai ng. Australians for Animals
AUGUST 2015 NEWSLETTER
AFA JOINS FORCES TO PROTECT DOLPHINS AFA has joined forces with Craig Brokensha and with Australia for Dolphins in this distressing campaign.
me in Indonesia overseeing a seapen specially built to rehab captured dolphins. But each me Ric has been on the verge of releasing some of these animals, he's been stopped at the last minute by the government. The good folk at JAAN have asked AFA and all groups concerned about the plight of Indonesian dolphins to keep up the pressure. AFA will be having a strategy mee ng in the coming weeks with Australia for Dolphins and Craig Brokensha. Mean me, we will keep pushing for a mee ng in Canberra with the Ambassador. For those of you concerned about the dolphins, please write to the Ambassador and make your protest. His name and address are on the le er above. AFA will keep our supporters posted on progress.
IN SUMMARY Photo: Gwen McKenna
Craig was in Bali and he discovered the dolphins when he was on the beach one day, hearing dolphin whistles. He advised AFA that some of the dolphins have had their teeth removed so they can never be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. The situa on in Indonesia for dolphins is nothing short of horrific. This is a country drowning in corrup on where dolphins are snatched from the wild, carted around the countryside in travelling show; incarcerated in ny pools for the
amusement and exploita on of tourists and Indonesians. Currently, the Minister for Forestry has control over the dolphins when they should be under the Minister for Fisheries. But apparently there's a hotline from the major dolphin exploiter to the Forestry Minister. AFA has been in constant communica on with the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) who have fought for years to stop the cruel treatment and capture of dolphins. We've also contacted Ric O'Barry who has spent a lot of
AFA opposes keeping dolphins in cap vity. It is a dreadfully bad lesson for children to be taught that pa ng a dolphin in a chlorinated pool is a good, fun thing to do. There's no considera on for an animal that travels hundreds of kilometres in the ocean, whose echo-loca on becomes a deafening noise in a concrete pool; whose socialisa on is destroyed and their intelligence reduced to robo c creatures
whose only exercise is jumping through hoops and pushing humans around on body boards. The Coffs Harbour “Dolphin Magic” should be re-named “The Dolphin Nightmare”. There is simply no reason or excuse for these dolphins to be kept in this miserable place except for the sole purpose of making money from their imprisonment. AFA will be wri ng to the NSW P r e m i e r M i ke B a i r d . T h e legisla on in NSW puts dolphins under the control of the Exhibited Animals Act which allows NO public li ga on or challenges to the issuing of a licence for the Coffs dolphin prison. Instead of being under the control of Na onal Parks & Wildlife Service, the dolphins are managed by the Department of Primary Industries, a ridiculous situa on. Premier Baird is a surfer and the father of young children. He needs to act. He needs to close down Coffs Harbour and allow the dolphins to be rehabilitated in a seapen – an opportunity for the public to experience the real intelligence of these animals who soon become accustomed to living in the wild, finding their own food and experiencing the joys of the wild ocean. Write to Premier Baird at Parliament House, Sydney, 2000. Please. For the Animals, Sue Arnold & Friends.
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AUSTRALIANS FOR
an ma s PROTECT NURTURE RESTORE
PO Box 414, Brunswick Heads 2483 Australia Tel: 61 2 6680 3674 Fax: 61 2 6680 3612 suearnold@linknet.com.au Reg. Charity No. CFN12644
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