Another dolphin death! Its time to start thinking straight...

Another dolphin death! It’s time to start thinking straight...


By : ElisabelleAruldoss


On 22 November 2012, it was reported that another Resorts World Sentosa(RWS) dolphins died during transport to Singapore.[1]


Originally, there were 27 bottlenose dolphins that were bought from the Solomon Islands to be put in the dolphin exhibition at RWS Marine Life Park. Of that 27, two died last year due to a bacterial disease. With another death, the pod has been reduced to 24.


There have been on-going petitions from Singaporeans warning RWS of the consequences that the RWS dolphins will face when put in captivity. Many concerned Singaporeans participated in these campaigns and pleaded with RWS to release the dolphins back into their natural habitat. About a year ago, I wrote an article ‘Dolphins and captivity don’t mix’[2] providing evidence of the negative effects dolphins experience in captivity all around the world. My article explicitly predicted the outcome of RWS dolphins in the future; however, I did not foresee another death so soon.


In 2003, 28 bottlenose dolphins were transported to Mexico’s wet ‘n’ wild park. Within five years, at least 12 dolphins have died due to illnesses and stress. The Mexican government then decided to impose a ban on the exportation and importation of live cetaceans for entertainment purposes. It is interesting to note that the death of one dolphin led the Mexican government to implement the ban. This is in comparison to RWS’s case where the death of three dolphins is insufficient to influence RWS to make the right decision.The dolphins have not even been established in the marine park and yet it already seems as though their fate is approaching that of the Mexican dolphins.


Wen Wen, the ten-year old dolphin that died recently, has been known by the RWS Marine Life Park as ‘a sociable dolphin that survived a shark attack in the wild’[3]. The Marine Life Park also concluded in their statement that ‘Wen Wen and his trainer had developed a strong bond during their four years together’.[4]


Wen Wen had to be a physically strong dolphin to survive a shark attack. Despite that and the alleged strong relationship between the cetacean and its trainer, it nevertheless died. This goes to show how vulnerable any dolphin, let alone a strong one with a good relationship with its trainer, is in captivity.


In the Marine Life Park’s statement, they mentioned that ‘we continue to monitor them and observe their quarantine period. No effort or resources will be spared in ensuring the health and well-being of our dolphins and all marine animals at Marine Life Park.’[5] This statement seems mildly familiar to the other statements made by RWS in the past. RWS has previously stated: ‘We can assure you that the dolphins in our care are healthy and residing in a facility that is safe and conducive to their health and well-being.’ They also talked about their highly qualified veterinarians and experts, medical examinations and facilities[6]. However, these assurances are starting to seem more meaningless as more dolphins die.


The Marine Park also stated that the death was sudden and that ‘No medical results or behavioural observations indicated that Wen Wen was in a compromised condition to make the journey.’[7] This proves the point that I had made earlier of how dolphins are vulnerable in captivity no matter what condition they are in. An apparently healthy dolphin can just suddenly die without a known cause. If top-class care and highly experienced personnel cannot prevent the deaths of dolphins, then it is only just to return them back into the wild where they can thrive or at least lead a quality life.

Dolphins should not be in captivity for any other purpose except for rehabilitation and conservation. Many marine parks pose as conservationists or claim that their dolphin exhibitions are of educational value to justify the use of dolphins. However, the captive environment is radically different from the natural environment, and this would significantly impact the dolphins’ behaviour. There is copious evidence showing the abnormal behaviours termed ‘stereotypies’ that dolphins portray in captive environments that indicate stress[8],[9].
Apart from the abundant evidence about the abnormality of captive environments, many dolphin experts such as Dr. Lori Marino, a neuroscientist who has written over 80 publications on cetacean neuroanatomy and related fields, also concur with the absent educational value[10].

Influential dolphin activist RicO’Barry also stated that ‘the external anatomy of the captive dolphin is the only thing that is similar to that of the wild dolphin. In captivity, their behaviour is so radically altered; the educational value is highly questionable.’[11] Therefore, the educational value of dolphin exhibitions is very much debatable and should not be used as a reason for having them in marine parks.

Quoted from RWS’s blog, ‘High on our agenda is our mission to make the Marine Life Park (MLP) a world-class institution for conservation of marine mammals’[12]. What kind of conservation are they promoting if three dolphins have died under their world-class care?

No matter what reasons the captive dolphins are here for, keeping the dolphins in captivity will not only confine them to an unnatural environment, but also give them a life of stress that can ultimately result in death. The fact that dolphins in the wild face dangers and predators does not justify stripping them from the ocean and placing them into artificial tanks. They are born wild, not captive, and are adapted to the ocean, not artificial environments.Hopefully, the authority behind the Marine Life Park would start to think straight and learn from Mexico’s experiences as well as the past three RWS dolphin deaths.

How many more dolphins have to die to convince RWS that they are leading the dolphins into a tragic fate?

About the author: 
ElisabelleAruldoss, aged 19 is a Singaporean in her final year of her Bachelor of Animal Science Degree at the University of Adelaide (Australia)


[1]http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC121122-0000164/Dolphin-at-RWS-dies-en-route-to-Singapore


[2]http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/08/dolphins-and-captivity-dont-mix/


[3]http://mlp.rwsentosablog.com/2012/11/22/in-memory-of-wen-wen/


[4]http://mlp.rwsentosablog.com/2012/11/22/in-memory-of-wen-wen/


[5]http://mlp.rwsentosablog.com/2012/11/22/in-memory-of-wen-wen/


[6]http://mlp.rwsentosablog.com/2011/08/11/about-the-state-of-dolphins/


[7]http://mlp.rwsentosablog.com/2012/11/22/in-memory-of-wen-wen/


[8]Carter, N 1982, “Effects of psycho-physiological stress on captive dolphins”, International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems, Vol. 3, pp. 193–198


[9]Davis, E., Down N., Garner J et al 2004, “Stereotypical behavior: a LAREF discussion”, Lab Primate Newsl, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 3– 4


[10]http://animal.discovery.com/tv/blood-dolphins/dolphins/opposition-dolphins-captivity.html


[11]http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/10/ric-obarry-we-can-save-the-planet-by-controlling-our-desires/


[12]http://mlp.rwsentosablog.com/2011/08/11/about-the-state-of-dolphins/