The luxury resort keeps more than 20 dolphins that members of the paying public can swim with, something that Marine Connection is firmly against. Minogue’s decision to perform at last week’s $20 million party was not taken lightly by the charity, which has now removed the Aussie pop princess from its list of celebrity contributors.

Marine Connection is an international London based-charity, committed to the care and protection of dolphins and whales worldwide. Spokeswoman Margaux Dodds said she had written to the singer’s management company requesting that Kylie pulled out of the show - which is said to have earned the diva $4 million. “Because Miss Minogue supported a facility that has captive dolphins captured from the wild, we can no longer be associated with her,” said Dodds. “I find it difficult to believe that her management company had not heard of the furore over the dolphins, which was well covered.”

The dolphins originated from waters surrounding the Solomon Islands. Atlantis management previously said the creatures were bred in captivity at the Solomon Islands Marine Mammal Education Centre - but Marine Connection argues that they were taken from the wild.

Dodds said: “It was disappointing to drop her - her management used to supply us with signed memorabilia for auctions and she had been a supporter of us for a couple of years.”

Both Atlantis and Minogue’s representatives, Terry Blamey Management, refused to comment on the matter.

Source: 7 Days (Sunday 30 November 2008)