After Pink Dolphins, Whale Sharks in Singapore Aquarium?

[Guest guest]

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

 

 

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

> Emailing: Conservationists Protest Casino’s Acquisition Of Whale

> Sharks - Science - redOrbit

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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>

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