"Dolphinarium plans create major protest"

[nichola]

NOT A MOMENT TO LOSE - NOW IS THE TiME TO ACT

1 The inspection of the intended Dolphinarium has take place and it was not approved because the work has not been completed. They will return and as building work needs to be stopped(?) by the 1st of May we have a very small window of opportunity to stop this in its tracks right now.

The person to contact is

Minister of Agriculture Water and Animal Affairs
Osman Kurt
FAX No 0252 214 1242    outside Turkey 0090 252 214 1242
(we don't have email and he is Mr elusive himself...)


This is a suggestion of what you may wish to say...

Dear Osman Kurt

Public Health and Safety: Hisaronu Dolphinarium
I am concerned that there will be very serious health and safety implications for humans and Dolphins at the  proposed Dolphinariam in Hisaronu.

There is scientific research that proves many diseases can be transmitted to humans from Dolphins and also from Dolphins to humans.

This is important because I am not convinced that the systems for cleansing the water which will be contaminated by for example dead fish food for the Dolphins and the Dolphins faeces will be adequate in an open air concrete pool.

I am also concerned that the processes for testing the safety of water will be inadequate thereby putting at risk both Dolphins and humans using the pool.

Humans and Dolphins can pass diseases to each other that can then be passed onto other humans. In the time that it takes to take water samples and process the results if 60 people a day use the pool that is 120 people that can be infected over a 48 hour period.

These are just some of the diseases that can be passed between humans and Dolphins:

Herpes Virus

The Pox Virus

Tuberculosis

Influenza

Tuberculosis and other bacterial diseases such as Weils Disease  a severe form of Leptospirosis characterised by jaundice, circulatory collapse and tendency to haemorrhage.

Pneumonia

Dolphins also carry microbes/pathogens associated with food poisoning such as

Salmonella
E.coli
Listeria

Research in America found that exposure to marine mammals can involve a health risk to people working with the animals and it can also threaten the health of the public. Diseases contracted from marine mammals are difficult to treat and diagnose, as they may be overlooked or even ignored by physicians who are not aware of the risks or range of potential infectious diseases.

I urge you to please stop the opening of the Dolpinarium in Hisaronu as I am concerned that public health will be put at risk.

Yours sincerely



Sources

1.www.wdcs.com   Marine Manual Captivity Booklet
2.www.merckvetmanual.com List of Bacterial & Viral Diseases of Marine Animals

[cheers]

Come on everybody - its URGENT now!!!!

Get those faxes sent.  I have asked for an e mail address from various people so hopefully we will get that soon and we can e mail Osman Kurt directly!!

I have opened a new thread asking if anyone can tell me how to post an e mail to a fax number, I know it can be done but don't know how!!
[?][?]

[nichola]

I have asked Joanne Davis to send above to all 4054 members of the Free Oludeniz Dolphins Group.

I know it is easier to email but we don't have that info. Imagine if just a few hundred never mind a couple of thousand people sending a fax their machine will be whirring away for ever and a day driving them all mad.  

Our marine Bioligist and Judith are working on a list of all the many many  systems that need to be in place to ensure absolute water purity which will also be sent to Mr Osman Kurt.

[peecee]

Don't know if this helps, have googled Ministry of Agriculture, the contact in ankara is G. Erten, tel 90312-4180341, fax  90312-4170026.  Could someone (who speaks Turkish) contact them and ask for Osman Kurt email address? (in a devious sort of way?)  Alternatively, can we find out when the inspection date is and have a turnout of people at the time asking him to consider the implications health-wise (or is that illegal?)

[Judith]

Hi, thanks to Nicola for kindly writing the list of known diseases that are transmittable for dolphins to humans and humans to dolphins. Some of these are very serious and the idea put forward for the Therapy Pool is that unwell children will be able to benefit from the experience! Any one with low immune system will certainly be at great risk if any of the standards are not adhered to!!
My thoughts now are that because we have targeted and quite successfully obtained the support of animal welfare organisations, we must NOW concentrate on the health and safety issues.
I am convinced that this area has not been thought through by the proposers, because, as we know the pool, even by size alone, does not conform.
Meeting with the Kaymakam, the mayor of Fethiye, today has thrown upsome interesting points, and we did raise the issues with him of water quality, ie qualified testing for pathogenic bacteria.I have found that eyebrows are raised when either, the dolphins going blind with the chlorine,is mentioned, or tourists are at risk from serious health and safety issues!
Generally,animal welfare does not meet with the same concern.  An inspection DID take place by Mr Osman Kurt but the pool is to be finished before a final inspection can occur. That gives us a little more time to hit hard with the health and safety aspects.
I implore everyone to contact particularly Mr Kurt with the list of possible bacteria and viruses, which incidently is far greater than even in Nicolas post,and to ask how this water is to be tested, purified, and kept at temperatures as stated in the standards, and who will be responsible for this operation and where are these samples to be sent.Is there any one of competence to assess the results!. Please also point out that the dolphins are not in free flowing sea water, but in a very confined space in direct sunlight. This means that the purity of the water is critical for human and dolphin safety.
Of course the issue of health and safety must be made clear to every buisiness and tourist venue in the area. Is it possible for everyone to mention this to their hairdressers, restaurants, travel agents etc. Perhaps we should now be sending emails to all buisinesses for them to check out the calis beach forum!
So lots to do,thank you all a million times for every letter you write and telephone call you make.

[nichola]

Seems that this number is either discontected because it was working or maybe switched off at night so we are going to check for a new number and or email address tomorrow.

Please prepare your letter and wait for new contact details... thanks everybody

[PKHUGHES100]

My letter is ready to be dispatched, can I use original fax details or have you a new one.

Kevin

[nichola]

Hi Kevin pls wait until tomo as this fax number isn't working. We'll test it out day time - we'll sort something out.  

[cheers]

Apparently they have PAINTED the pond a lovely shade of blue!!

How long will it take with all the different chemicals in the water for the paint to peel?

[peecee]

Nichola, do we use this fax number?