(SG) Casino mulls alternatives to whale shark exhibit

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Casino mulls alternatives to whale shark exhibit

AFP 16 May 09

 

SINGAPORE (AFP) — A Singapore casino developer said Saturday it was

considering alternatives to its plan to exhibit whale sharks, the world's

largest fish, which had run into strong opposition from animal welfare

groups.

 

" We have started to explore plans for an alternative to a whale shark

exhibit, " Krist Boo, the spokeswoman for Resorts World at Sentosa, told

AFP.

 

Resorts World at Sentosa, one of two casino resorts being built in

Singapore, had planned to import the whale sharks for its Marine Life Park

(MLP) which is set to become the world's biggest oceanarium upon

completion.

 

The park however said its move was not due to pressure by the seven animal

welfare groups which have launched an online petition that has gathered

more than 9,000 signatures.

 

" The MLP team does not take its responsibilities to both conservation and

Singapore lightly and as such, we spent the past two years doing much

groundwork, " it said in a statement to AFP.

 

" We strongly believe that our action must be governed by the conservation

of this species rather than what is dictated by fleeting public opinion. "

 

Alternative options to the whale shark exhibit being considered by the MLP

were shown to the various animal welfare groups last month, it said.

 

" This proposal is still in the process of being refined for a further

round of review, " the MLP said.

 

Any changes to the planned whale shark exhibit would have to get the final

approval of the Singapore government.

 

Animal welfare groups welcomed the move by Resorts World at Sentosa to

consider alternatives to exhibiting whale sharks, which can reach lengths

of 12 metres (40 feet) or the size of a bus.

 

" I think it's very progressive in that they are considering other

alternatives, " said Louis Ng, executive director and founder of the Animal

Concerns Research and Education Society group.

 

Jaki Teo, the campaign coordinator behind the online petition

(www.whalesharkpetition.com), hoped the authorities would consider the

concerns raised by animal welfare groups about the whale sharks.

 

" A lot of the concerns are about the fact that they are not suited to be

held in captivity, " she said.

 

Although massive, whale sharks are docile and feed on plankton.

 

Resorts World at Sentosa is scheduled to open in phases starting from

early 2010 and will feature the world's biggest oceanarium with 700,000

fish.