Bahrain Dolphin Park

The Marine Connection received a letter on behalf of the Bahrain Prime Minister acknowledging the recent issues surrounding Bahrain Dolphin Park and asking his government to look into the situation. Read the letter here. There have also been reports that the beluga whale (pictured left) has been taken back to Russia.

Take Action
This new information gives an excellent opportunity to further encourage the Bahrain government to consider the permanent closure of the facility. Therefore, we are asking people to write a polite letter to the Bahraini Prime Minister encouraging him to close Bahrain Dolphin Park permanently and to consider a ban on the display, trade and capture of cetaceans in Bahrain. See below for the full story. (Please address the letter to Your Excellency Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa)

His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa
Prime Minister
P.O. Box 1000
Al-Manama
Bahrain

Full story of Bahrain Dolphin Park campaign
In recent months, the Marine Connection became very concerned over reports of poor conditions with regards to the animals being held at the Bahrain Dolphin Park. It was initially brought to our attention that the lone beluga, two dolphins (including a Sousa dolphin, image to right) and a sea lion (Steller) were living in unacceptably small indoor pools. This can be extremely detrimental for the health of these animals which have adapted over many, many years to a specific unrestricted, three-dimensional environment, travelling many miles a day. In addition, dolphins, beluga whales and sea lions all dive to tremendous depths which could not possibly be catered for in these pens.

Three dolphins were imported from Russia in 1998 to the Bahrain Dolphin Park, however, within weeks of their arrival two of the dolphins died. The remaining dolphin was then joined in 1999 by two further dolphins from Russia. Considering there are now only two left, this begs the question, where did the third dolphin go? This Park has a very poor reputation and who is to say how many beluga whales, dolphins and sea lions have died within the facility?

Fire engulfs the Park
The charity heard that on 4 August 2006, fire broke out within the facility engulfing the two-storey building, killing the sea lion and seriously endangering the only beluga whale (pictured left) which has now been moved to a "private pool".

The other animals which were held at the facility, two dolphins and a sea lion, are regularly transferred between the Bahrain Dolphin Park and their sister parks in Saudi Arabia and previously to the fire on Friday night had been moved to Saudi Arabia.

Our captivity officer comments "It is a tragedy that one animal has died and a beluga whale has been subjected to the trauma of this fire as well as the stressful relocation to a private pool which is not tailored for this animal's complex requirements."

"The Marine Connection is keen to find out exactly where this pool is and how the multifaceted conditions a beluga whale demands are being met; simply to move the beluga whale to another pool and add salt, even with air conditioning, is totally unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately. Beluga whales are extremely sensitive to their surroundings as they have adapted over millions of years to the expanse of the freezing Arctic environment. To be placed in artificial and inadequate conditions will be seriously detrimental to this whale's health - physically and psychologically. The Marine Connection is very concerned over the current and future welfare of this animal."

"In addition, to learn that two dolphins and a sea lion are regularly transferred between parks in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain is also concerning. The transportation of these animals between countries creates a very stressful experience for these mammals and Marine Connection has serious doubts about this practice and its welfare and legal implications."

Worldwide pressure for Dolphin Park to permanently close
In view of this fire and the previous reports on poor conditions at Bahrain Dolphin Park, the Marine Connection and 20 other organisations worldwide are urging the Bahrain government to consider the closure of this Park and also to ban the display, trade and capture of marine mammals.

Many organisations signed on to support this letter which was sent to authorities throughout the Bahrain Government including the UK Ambassador in Bahrain, the Prime Minister of Bahrain and the Director General of Environment & Wildlife Affairs.

To read the letter and see the organisations supporting this campaign please click here.