Pools completed and ready for dolphins in Dubai

Published in 7days.ae: Friday, 7th July, 2006

Construction of pools that will house three dolphins at Dubai's new dolphinarium has been completed as officials insist the controversial project will open by the end of November.

Construction of the 1,500-seat stadium and the two pools, which will be part of Dubai Marine World, started in March after months of delay due to issues with contracts and municipality licences, said Rashid Bukhash, the municipality's project director.

“We had a few hurdles in the beginning with contracts and existing foundations but now the project is on track and we are confident it will go on as planned,” said Christopher Richardson, project manager for Royal Sergrex, the company managing the project in partnership with Dubai Municipality.

The plans for the dolphinarium provoked public outcry when they were announced last year with residents saying such theme parks were cruel outdated. But Richardson said the controversy is not likely to cut into the project's profits saying: “Most Dubai residents are not activists and the majority of them do not see any difference between taking their kids to the dolphinarium or the zoo.

“We got a lot of support from the public and even in the US polls show that 90 per cent of people don't oppose such projects. But only opponents get heard because they are the only ones who get out and speak,” he added.

Animal welfare groups criticised the dhs35 million-project saying that keeping dolphins in captivity drastically alters their behaviour and shortens their life span. But Bukhash defended the dolphinarium saying the outrage is unfounded.

“It's not like we are going out to fish those dolphins out of the ocean. They were born in captivity and lived most their lives in close proximity to humans and needless to say they would be well cared for better than most animals anywhere,” he added.

Three dolphins aged 15, 17 and 19 are set to arrive in Dubai by mid-October from Royal Sergrex's aquarium in the Ukraine to entertain crowds at Dubai's Creek Park. “But they won't be performing in choreographed shows for few weeks because we want to make sure they adjust to their new environment,” Richardson said.

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