| Calls for release of whale shark
The Palm Atlantis resort in Dubai are being bombarded by demands for them to release the young whale shark currently held at the facility. Recently the Minister for the Environment, Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad said "“The whale shark should be freed, there is no decision yet on the timing, but definitely it will be freed.” The Government’s decision comes before the resort’s gala opening in November 2008, billed as the most expensive private party yet staged. Some suspect that the decision to free Sammy has been prompted by fears that the negative publicity could overshadow the festivities.
Atlantis staff took the animal into captivity after it was found 'fatigued and disorientated' in the shallow waters of the Gulf. On September 9 2008, they issued a press release stating that their marine experts had rescued a struggling four-metre whale shark. The statement went on to say that the female animal had been taken to the hotel’s 11-million-litre lagoon “for medical care and observation” - but this was only supposed to be a temporary measure, with no mention of a permanent capture. They stated that the shark would only be kept until it had recovered from an unspecified medical problem, now UAE residents and organisations worldwide are demanding that the animal be freed as soon as possible following an announcement from executives of Atlantis saying they will now not release the whale shark.
Sharks are protected by CITES (Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species) and despite calls to Atlantis for an explanation into the future of the whale shark, the hotel remain unavailable for comment. Whale sharks are listed as a vulnerable species by The World Conservation Union and are protected by CITES (Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species), which is an agreement of which the UAE is a signatory.
The management of Atlantis hotel have been criticised worldwide by organisations for performing an apparent change of mind by deciding to keep the whale shark. Ali Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi, environmental advisor for Emirates Diving Association says he has seen the whale shark and commented that "it should be tagged and released, the sooner the better.”
The local media, who have christened the shark 'Sammy', are also supporting calls for the its' release and Gulf News have issued a cut out badge for their readers urging them to upload photographs of themselves wearing their badge.
Marine Connection director, Margaux Dodds comments; "Under CITES law facilities are required to secure a permit to keep whale sharks, Atlantis has no such permit and as such are acting illegally by keeping this animal. We sincerely hope that Atlantis will listen carefully to local and international opinion and pleas from all concerned for the future welfare of this young whale shark and release it back into the wild to live in its natural environment and swim free and we support this wholeheartedly."
The Kerzner Marine Foundation, which is based in Florida, has failed to respond to repeated requests for an to date statement. Management at the Atlantis in Dubai and at the hotel chain’s global communications office in New York also remain unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile Gulf News report that ex-Atlantis employees have stated that Atlantis, far from rescuing this whale shark, arranged for it to be deliberately taken from the wild and never had any intention of releasing it, their objectives were clear from the beginning. Read more here
Update : Tom Cruise is reported to be planning a celebrity New Years' Eve party at the Atlantis resort please email him via his management asking him not to patronise this facility and highlight the situation with the wild caught dolphins from the Solomon Islands and Sammy the whale shark's plight.
Take Action
- Do you support the campaign for her release?
- What action should be taken?
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Gulf News are inviting all who support the call for the release of this young whale shark to contact them, so please take a moment to email Gulf News with your comments |
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Also please contact Atlantis demanding this whale shark be released back into the wild. Please also ask why 28 dolphins which were taken from the wild and imported into their facility from the Solomon Islands have now reduced to 24 according to news reports.
email the Atlantis resort
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