Say no to another dolphin display-Please send letter

[Guest guest]

Say no to another dolphin display-Please send letter

 

 

Source:

" McKenna " gmckenna

 

BACKGROUND

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Dear All,

Please take a minute to read the letter below

regarding the Virginia Marine Science Museum's

proposed plans to add a tank to display dolphins to

the public. We need to let public officials know that

we, the public, are adamantly opposed to this. I have

enclosed a prewritten letter for you to send. Please

feel free to amend it and don't forget to personalize

it as well. Email addresses and fax #'s are included

at the bottom of this page. Omit this portion of the

letter before sending.

Sincerely,

Gwen McKenna

gmckenna

 

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SEND LETTERS TO:

MAYOR - Meyera Oberndorf

email:moberndo

FAX: (757) 426-5699

CITY MANAGER - James Spore email:

jspore

FAX: (757) 427-4135

MUSEUM DIRECTOR - Mac Rawls

No email address available FAX: (757) 437-4976

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS - Nancy Parker, Bob Mandigo and

Reba McClanan

email: ctycncl

All council members have the same email, just put in

individual council members name in the subject line.

You can also FAX them at (757) 426-5669

 

SAMPLE LETTER

***Don’t forget to sign***

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EMAIL BLOCK:

moberndo ,

jspore ,

ctycncl

 

Please stop Virginia Marine Science Museum from

building a dolphin tank

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

I have recently heard reports that the Virginia Marine

Science Museum is planning to expand and spend part of

a funded $50 million dollars to build a tank to

display captive dolphins to the public. This came as a

complete shock to me as I have always respected the

outstanding work the facility has provided in rescuing

and trying to rehabilitate sick and wounded mammals.

 

I question why the Virginia Marine Science Museum

would consider building another tank for a dolphin

display rather than use the funds being raised to

expand the museums stranding center. It would be

upsetting to learn that a museum that works so hard to

rehabilitate and release marine mammals, would also

hold other marine mammals captive for profit.

 

Even if none of the dolphins used in the tank are

taken from the wild and are captive bred and deemed

non-releasable, this does not justify having them live

out the rest of their lives in a barren tank. Why not

abolish the tank and let captive bred dolphins live

out their lives in a more natural environment like a

sea pen where they can once again experience the

natural rhythm of the sea, the currents, the tides,

the sunshine and the thrill of chasing live fish.

These dolphins reviewuated as non-releasable can then

live out their lives without further exploitation.

 

A true understanding and appreciation of marine

mammals can't come from looking at animals held in

tanks with every aspect of their existence regulated.

What people really learn when they look at caged

animals is how animals act in captivity and that it is

acceptable to keep animals in captivity who are bored,

cramped, lonely and far from their natural homes. It

also creates a long term demand for dolphins.

 

If the Virginia Marine Science Museum is going to

house dolphins in the same tank, one has to wonder how

they are going to prevent them from breeding and

creating more non-releasable dolphins. How will we

ever put an end to this cycle if the Virginia Marine

Science Museum continues to perpetuate it? Instead,

why not set a standard for others to follow that says

the only tanks that should be built are tanks used for

rehabilitating sick or wounded animals.

 

If the Virginia Marine Science Museum builds this

tank, we will be sure to avoid Virginia Beach as a

destination when making plans for our next vacation

and will encourage our friends, family and co-workers

to do the same.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

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