After Pink Dolphins, Whale Sharks in Singapore Aquarium?

[Guest guest]

Hello Louis,

Thank you for the very prompt response. Please do get in

touch in case you require some help regarding supporting the protest in

Singapore, I'll enquire if WTI-IFAW can join in. I have passed on your

message to my team at WTI. IFAW was also informed of the captive Whale Shark

in Dubai sometime ago, last year I believe

In India, we are saving these creatures in the wild, it is one of the

largest and most comprehensive conservation projects ever undertaken

singularly in this country, the progress has been radical and long lasting.

The media has been very supportive. WTI has also been instrumental in

getting the Whale Shark listed in the Wildlife Protection Act, the first

fish to be so included. If you want more information, please do not hesitate

to contact us.

Yes, things are going well at WTI touchwood. Several educational projects

on the anvil, let us

see. Amongst other things, WTI has a fabulous library, Vivek Menon's

individual collection of books is also stunning.

The professional accomplishments of the WTI team are of a very superior

quality. I would rate it among the top animal organisations I have seen

anywhere.

It is quite amazing how many wild animal facilities there are in

Singapore! But you have been a pioneer in opposing them and improving them,

your work with the chimpanzees at Singapore Zoo was an inspiration to me and

provided a lot of guidance when I visited Singapore Zoo. And the work you

have done to highlight the cruelties at these facilities is really very

heartening. Your work with Polar Bears was quite astonishing in its breadth

and scholarship. I often use your work as an example and reference and I

really appreciate your efforts to improve Bali Zoo.

I hope we meet again soon.

Keep the good work.

Best wishes and kind regards,

 

 

On Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 5:47 PM, Louis Ng (ACRES) <louiswrote:

 

> Hi ,

>

> Thanks for your email.

>

> Yes, we are part of the groups protesting about this.

>

> The resort is also importing dolphins. You can read the news here:

> http://www.acres.org.sg/news/news_tst-27dec08.htm

>

> You can also read other news about the whale sharks here:

> http://www.acres.org.sg/news/news_tst-29aug08.htm

>

> Let me know if you need any further information. Hope all is well at WTI.

>

> Best wishes,

> Louis

> ACRES

>

> > Hi Louis,

> > The attached news item was brought to my attention by my

> team

> > leader at WTI today. It sounds similar to the Pink Dolphin deal in

> > Sentosa.

> > Do you know anything about it?

> > We are interested since WTI is at the forefront of saving these animals

> in

> > Gujarat.

> > Trust you are very well and that your projects are progressing smoothly.

> > Thank you.

> > Regards and best wishes,

> >

> >

> > Dear Madam,

> > I am passing this onto Louis Ng, Director of

> > ACRES(Animal Concerns Research and Education Society) in Singapore who

> > might

> > be able to take it up. As you might be aware, ACRES was opposed to the

> > importation of Pink Dolphins at the Sentosa Island resort in Singapore,

> > the

> > animals had been illegally obtained.

> > Thanks for letting me know about this.

> > Regards,

> >

> >

> >

> > 2009/3/13 Shibani Chaudhury <shibani

> >

> >

> >>

> >> ---------- Forwarded message ----------

> >> <dhireshjoshi

> >> Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 11:19 AM

> >> Emailing: Conservationists Protest Casino’s Acquisition Of

> >> Whale

> >> Sharks - Science - redOrbit

> >> To:

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >> ------------------------------

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> >> -

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g+to+import+whale+sharks+for+its+planned+aquarium,+resulting+in+several+local+an\

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> >

> >> Conservationists Protest Casino’s Acquisition Of Whale Sharks

> >>

> >> Posted on: Thursday, 12 March 2009, 11:20 CDT

> >>

> >> A Singapore casino developer is planning to import whale sharks for its

> >> planned aquarium, resulting in several local and international animal

> >> welfare groups launching an online campaign opposing the plans, the

> >> American

> >> Free Press reported.

> >>

> >> The groups have called on the public to " voice their opinions " on the

> >> campaign's website on Wednesday concerning the casino’s acquisition of

> >> the

> >> whale sharks.

> >>

> >> The casino will feature a Marine Life Park set to become the biggest

> >> seawater aquarium in the world, holding some 700,000 fish in 20 million

> >> gallons of water, according to Resorts World at Sentosa, the builder of

> >> the

> >> casino.

> >>

> >> However, organizations including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

> >> and

> >> People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, along with five others have

> >> come out in opposition over having whale sharks in the facility.

> >>

> >> The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

> >> lists whale sharks, which are considered the largest sharks, as

> >> " vulnerable " .

> >>

> >> “The union said in a statement: “No man-made environment, no matter

> >> how

> >> large, could accommodate the needs of a whale shark.â€

> >>

> >> The sharks are capable of diving up to 3,234 feet and migrate over 8,060

> >> miles. The group claims there is plenty of evidence showing the species

> >> does

> >> poorly in captivity.

> >>

> >> In the United States, two whale sharks died within five months of each

> >> other in a " state-of-the-art " aquarium.

> >>

> >> Jaki Teo, the campaign’s coordinator, told AFP the site received more

> >> than 100 emails overnight.

> >>

> >> Teo said they are hoping government organizations will support the

> >> campaign

> >> since it concerns Singapore's international image.

> >>

> >> “It's not just a tourist attraction, people will come and say 'what's

> >> a

> >> whale shark doing in Singapore?'†she said.

> >>

> >> Proponents of the oceanarium, including Resorts World at Sentosa, argue

> >> that the threat the animals faced " makes the role of aquariums in their

> >> conservation all the more crucial " .

> >>

> >> Resorts World said The Marine Life Park's goal is to " help protect the

> >> species' wild population from disappearing " and it has worked closely

> >> with

> >> marine experts to give the animals " top-class care. "

> >>

> >> The casino project is on track for a phased opening from early 2010 and

> >> will also feature hotels and a Universal Studios theme park.

> >>

> >> ---

> >>

> >> On the Net:

> >>

> >> - Sea Shepherd Conservation Society <http://www.seashepherd.org/>

> >> - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals <http://www.peta.org/>

> >> - Image Courtesy

> >> Wikipedia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rhincodon_typus.jpg>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >

>

>

> Yours sincerely,

> Louis Ng (MSc)

> Executive Director

> Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES)

> www.acres.org.sg

>

> 91 Jalan Lekar

> Singapore 698917

> (O): +65 6892 9821

> (F): +65 6892 9721

> (HP): +65 9796 8592