"Dolphinarium plans create major protest"

[krieny]

Great report by Donal MacIntyre, sharing it with as many people as possible. Still behind you all the way Dolphin Angels!

[Rosy]

Please see reply I got from ABTA
Dear Rosie,
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Simon Pickup and I am the Sustainable Tourism Coordinator for ABTA and the Federation of Tour Operators in the UK.
I have received a message below which I believe you sent to ABTA using our website: www.abta.com
Firstly, thank you for the information that you have provided. The development of the Dolphin pool in Hisaronu has been a developing situation that we have been monitoring closely. It has shocked and saddened both ourselves, our members and the international community.
The Tour Operator members of ABTA work to  a strict set of guidance in relation to attractions that contain animals,  the Travelife Animal Welfare Guidelines. These were developed via a multistakeholder process which involved animal welfare expert organisations from all around the world. The aim of the guidance document is to ensure that in all instances where animals are featured in attractions in destinations which UK customers visit, there are good standards of welfare adhered to. On the basis of this guidance, the ABTA tour operator members decided that they would not be in a position to work with this attraction.
However, owing to the poor standards of animal care and that were being exhibited and facility design and location, our members have additionally voiced their concerns with the Turkish authorities to ensure that the dolphins are moved to safety away from this attraction. We and our members have been working closely with the Born Free Foundation (www.bornfree.org.uk) with regards to this situation. Born Free are campaigning to have the dolphins moved to safety and additionally, seeking to ensure their welfare for the time that they remain at this attraction. We have been liaising with Born Free regularly over this situation and are hopeful, that there will be solution reached in the immediate future. The Born Free Foundation has information relating to this situation on its website which is available at: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/news/news-article/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=528
As far as we are aware, there were concerns regarding the water quality at the attraction and its safety for humans which led to the Turkish authorities declaring that the attraction's pool could not be entered by humans due to the health risk this was pose. As such, we were led to believe that the attraction was closed to the public. It is therefore concerning for us to hear that tourists are being encouraged to swim with Dolphins in the destination. We will take this matter up with our destination teams and the relevant authorities.
Thank you once again for your email.
Best regards,
Simon
Simon Pickup
Sustainable Tourism Coordinator
Destinations and Sustainability
ABTA / FEDERATION OF TOUR OPERATORS

[Scunner]

Well done Rosy and well done Simon Pickup. Let's hope the tour ops start getting the message through to their customers before they go.

[Yogababe]

There is a small tour shop called something like Exlathon (not sure exactly I think its new) on the main road in Ovacik with a board showing swim with Dolphins in Hisaronu.

[Julesp]

Yes what a good letter from Simon Pickup
Thanks Rosy
 Lets hope all the reps make their holidaymakers aware of the situation, Its amazing how many people I have spoke to dont know about the dolphins even some who live over here!!

[heather07]

A good positive reply,  well done Rosey

[flipflop2]

Thank god for ABTA Rosie,and for your stoic determination to get results.  I have used this reply in my continued correspondance with Thomas Cook regarding dolphinaria in Turkey. I dont think they can find any argument with this reply whatsoever.  Well done you xx

[Dolphin Angels]

Well done Rosy - just to let you know we have sent this response to a few key people in different organisations - you can never assume that everyone who should be, is actually aware of what else is happening and who might be involved - thanks for sending it on  

[Dolphin Angels]

Media coverage coming up...

Comprehensive report about last weekend and some of the findings that have since come to light in this Monday Land of Lights - already in print so that's a certaintity.

Hello magazine coming out this Tuesday we believe - anyone in the UK coming soon can you bring a few copies over so we can all have a buchers...

Vince at the Sun is biding his time - waiting for the big scoop we reckon!

[Scunner]

More good news guys, Misha & Tom have made the Daily Express:

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/193195/Investigator-Donal-MacIntyre-exposes-the-appauling-exploitation-of-two-dolphins

Who would have thought investigative reporter Donal MacIntyre (also the reporter on last week's ITV London Hisaronu report) would be married to an ex-dolphin trainer???

Lovely swipe at (quote) "the Irish bar across the street" too.