"Dolphinarium plans create major protest"

[Judith]

I do think the officials considering approving this enterprise should be shown the above information.
So Please feel free to edit, copy and paste to as many as you can.
I have already thought of the insurance angle,have been trying to identify the insurers of the pool also.Although a difficult task!
Perhaps insurers should know that this pool, on size alone does not conform to European standards.
The reason that the pool size is crucial for our argument, together with the following section on noise, is that this will undoubtably lead to the animals being stressed. Getting into a very small pool with stressed wild animals of size,poses serious safety risks!
Any one out there with suggestions regarding insurers or who have contacts please let us know.
One other point you may like to make,which has so far been ignored by the proposers, is that the E.E.A.M. standards clearly state..
quote ..NOISE..Cetaceans shall be protected from harrassment by excessive noise from irregular impulses. The noise level shall be kept as low as possible for the frequency range between 0 and 60 khz. Sounds of mechanical origin are probably the most stressful for the animals because of their repetitive nature. Any doubts as to the effects of any sound should be referred to an expert with experience of underwater ecoustic measurments, not airbourne acoustics, in conjuction with a vetinary surgeon with experience and or training in this field.. unquote
This pretty well rules out Hisaronu then, as the place to keep dolphins!
Please feel free to qoute this section of the E.E.A.M.  standards in any letter you write.

[cheers]

Don't even know what to say on Judith's post!!
I did post a list of some people to contact on 22nd April.
Can we please ask anyone who reads this to ask anyone they know to forward Judiths post to the relevant people!!

Come on everybody all you need to do is make a draft e mail or copy and paste!!

Anyone who has any contacts who can help please contact them!!

We must save these 2 poor dolphins from dying a living death!!

CBF is known as a caring forum - please don't let us down!!

[!][!][!]

[tinkerman]

A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT IS IMMINENT!

[Judith]

If I had a pound for every time we have heard this cruel enterprise is to be stopped I would be rich!
We must assume that this will go ahead,rumours are spread to lull us into a false scense of security, so please write, email,telephone as much as possible.  It has only been because of the barrage of calls and letters that those in power have taken some notice.
Please dont stop, we are not out of the woods yet!!
As usual, I have to thank every one of you who has added your voice thus far, please dont stop now at this crucial moment.I am seeing the pool later today, will keep you posted

[Judith]

WATER IS BEING PUMPED IN AS WE SPEAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dolphin Angels]

Well last night we had planned to go to the pond - we'd been planning to go every day last week but things just kept getting in the way.

So anyway as fate would have it who was there - The Russian Owner of the Dolphins. And what else was going on the pool was being filled with water. We have photoagraphed it all and will add these later tonight for you to see.

We were approached by the Russian and a girl (who translated) and asked why we were taking photos of them, so not ones to miss this golden oopportunity we ended up having a very lengthy question and answer session.

Here is a record of the key points - sorry its so long

Dolphins

1. The first 2 Dolphins he owned in Kas died from pneumonia.

2. The current 2 Dolphins were taken from the wild when Turkey allowed itself to break the Cities agreement and 30 Dolphins were captured in the Mediterranean 5 years ago.

3. He said Dolphins don't hear - which is nonsense because sound/hearing is their primary sense

4. He said he loves Dolphins but didn't answer when asked why they weren't moved from Kas when the area was being dynamited which causes them a great deal of stress.

5. Initially he said they were for therapy but later when questioned about why bring them to a concrete pool in Hisaronu,he said because of the economic crisis they were not making enough money in Kas to take care of the Dolphins.

He added that many tourists come each year from this area to Kaş to swim with the Dolphins and it is difficult to get permission to rent or buy area in the sea.

6. He said he didn't know what that Dolphins do to heal the sick but they do

7. When questioned about transmittable diseases that can be passed to or from Dolphins to humans he said that sick people weren't allowed to swim with Dolphins and demonstrated by coughing to show these people would not be allowed to swim.

8. The Dolphins will be separated in the pool during the day but together at night, obviously two dolphins swimming in tight circles means two lots of customers! Also if the dolphins were together they might not concentrate on the customers!

9. He claimed that Dolphins live longer in captivity (despite all research and evidence to the contrary) as there is more control over conditions and pollutants.

10. He didn't explain when asked why the Dolphins were covered in marks consistent with teeth bites.

Note - previous applications to Fethiye have twice been rejected.

Pool area and pool water

1. He says the pool area is 1000m³ but includes the 2 shelf areas at either end. In actual fact it falls far short on the European Standards which are a minimum requirement. Actual figures on the shortfall will come in separate post.

2.Sea water is being brought and pumped into the pool
A muslin cloth s attached to the end of the pipe to filter the water as it's pumped into the pool.

3. Water samples will be taken from the pool but he was vague and didn't appear to know about where the samples would be tested.

4. He said shade for the pool will be put up but we could see no provision for this. Shade is required by the standards

5. No evidence of separate buildings for preparation of food etc as required by the standards.

6. A waterproof sealant has been painted on the concrete walls of the pool. He could not say if this had been proven to be free from toxins and safe for Dolphins.

7. Water is filtered every six hours and can be increased if necessary. The standards say it should not exceed four hours, Also, how will it be judged sufficient if there is not  adequate and professional testing?

8. There was no evidence of a generator in the event of power cuts.

9. Pool will have a system to control the temperature.

10 the standards clearly state that there should be protection from interference by the public. We could only see short wooden picket fencing presumably for the perimeter fence

11 The pool should be protected from flies and contaminants, four dolphins recently died in Alanya by ingesting leaves from neighbouring trees. It was obvious he had not considered this issue in realtion to the pool in Hisaronu,

Qualified personnel

1. There is no Vet for the Dolphins on site this is in complete disregard to the standards specification - the trainer is Mexican with no professional qualifications, and veterinary advice comes from an unidentified source via e-mail from Mexico.

2. Blood samples will be taken monthly from Dolphins and sent to Mexico for analysis only qualified proffesionals should be doing this, his trainer is not qualified .

3. None of the staff have official qualifications i.e. Marine Biologist or Vetinary qualifications.

4. There isn't a separate treatment pool although they plan to build one we saw no provision for this on site.

5. No Vet for transportation of the Dolphins this is total disregard of the standards.

Noise

1. He hasn't been in Hisaronu in the season but now he knows that the bars and nearby underground night club have loud music until the early hours of the morning he will ask them to keep the noise down!

2. There is no noise insulation in the pool.

Note - The standards have very specific rules regarding noise levels and vibrations. Qualified underwater acousticexperts  have to be involved.The standards clearly state that cetaceans must be protected from excessive noise and harrasment, and that sounds of a mechanical nature are most stressful to the animals because of their repetitive nature      

Agents

He named Hamish McTurk as one of the agents.

Insurance

1. There is no insurance policy in Turkey for Dolphins and the insurance for tourists is covered by the agents. The Manager of the Fethiye Tourist Office confirmed this week that no agents have applied for the license as required by law; this would be done if and when approval by the Ministry is given.

Misc.

1. He seemed surprised when told British people didn't want the Dolphins kept in a pool in Hisaronu..

2. There is a comprehensive list of educational elements which should be included with an establishment of this type.The standards state that establishments should establish educational goals in their programs, these are not part of his Kas dolphinarium

[Dolphin Angels]

It is confirmed tickets will now be on sale within two weeks at Hamish McTurk Travel Agency!!!

info@hamishmcturk.com

hamishmcturk@hotmail.com

hamishmcturk@gmail.com

Tel 0090 532 616 64 32 from outside Turkey

Tel 0532 616 64 32

[Old Daffodil]

Over the years we have been customers of Hamish and his brother Hassan and used their transfer services,hired cars and booked local trips. I feel so sad that he has become involved in this venture.

My uncle was a marine biologist and once saw a dolphin who for some reason became irate, ram its nose into a shark and rupture its lungs and damage the gills so that it drowned. If a dolphin can do that to a shark what could it do to a human adult or child? If the dolphins are going to be put in this pond then who is going to be held responsible for the safety of anyone using it?

Reputable therapy pools with dolphins are only part of working with people who need them, there are also classroom assessments and massages and the courses take a few days and are supervised by qualified professional therapists.

[Jacqui Harvey]

If this goes ahead I think this Company may rue the day they got involved, they obviously are totally unaware of the strength of feeling about the Dolphins.
I for one, would never use them in future.

[cheers]

Read Dolphin Angels post 40 minutes ago and still don't know what to say!!  I am surprised at the lack of posts on this thread over the last 2 weeks!  Has everyone given up?  This is a battle we can win - if we all do our bit!!
The relevant contacts for the people in power have already been made on this thread.  We need everyone to show support to the authorities!
I will come back with my thoughts later!!

What are yours?