(CN)Beijing Olympics 2008: Beluga show

[Guest guest]

Dear colleagues,

Some time ago I posted a message on a beluga being

made to swim with a four year old baby as part of China's exhibition during

the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The following is the stance of the Born Free

Foundation on the spectacle involving the child's association with the

beluga. Thanks to the Born Free Foundation for stating their opposition to

this event.

Warm regards,

 

 

 

 

 

Dear ,

 

 

 

Once again, many thanks for bringing to our attention the article about

Qingdao Polar Ocean World, which was forwarded to the Zoo Check team via

Virginia McKenna.

 

 

 

We have had a couple of complaints from the general public about this

" attraction " , but at the time of writing none about the specific horror of

the four year old swimming with the beluga.

 

 

 

" Swim-with " opportunities comprise a substantial part of the complaints

received from the general public by Zoo Check, although these are

concentrated mainly in established holiday destinations. China is so far

still almost a niche market, although it is becoming more popular, and

complaints are rising quite sharply about the various animal cruelties

witnessed there by tourists.

 

 

 

With regard to the boy Yang Yang swimming alongside and on the back of the

beluga whale at Qingdao Polar Ocean World: the beluga is separated from it's

natural habitat and enclosed in a totally alien environment, has to undergo

medication and fertility control, put up with an artificial diet, strange

noise and odours, and the proximity of people, are sometimes kept on their

own, and suffer from stress and reduced life expectancy. Tanks are small,

cramped, and bare compared to the open ocean, with chemically treated water,

which affects their skin.

 

 

 

Even when well trained, the beluga is a wild animal. Many people do not

realize that these are large and strong creatures. Yang Yang is a tiny four

years old. We would have grave reservations about the wisdom of allowing the

child to ride bareback at the 2008 Olympic Games, or, indeed, to swim

alongside it at any time.

 

 

 

We are totally against any " swim with " facility. There is no benefit in this

to the animal, and precious little evidence that it is of benefit to humans.

There is also a risk of disease transmission between humans and whales which

the general public is mostly unaware of.

 

 

 

You may be interested to hear that the Born Free Foundation is currently

working towards a forthcoming joint campaign with the Whale and Dolphin

Conservation Society (WDCS) on captive dolphins, and in particular swim-with

programmes. We hope to educate both tourists and the travel industry as to

the reality of life for captive dolphins and the dangers of swim-with

programs to both humans and dolphins. Details of the campaign will be

available on our website, www.bornfree.org.uk. In the mean time, you can

read our fact sheets on captive whales and dolphins here:

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/zoo-check/captive-whales-dolphins/.

 

 

 

Unfortunately, we tend to come up against a brick wall when complaining to

the Chinese authorities about animal treatment, but we will write to the

appropriate authority to express our disquiet.

 

 

 

Yours Sincerely and With Best Wishes

 

 

 

Sarah Jefferson

 

Zoo Check Administrator

 

 

 

Born Free Foundation

 

3 Grove House

 

Foundry Lane

 

Horsham

 

West Sussex

 

RH13 5PL

 

UK