Poland plan new DAT facility

The Marine Connection has been alerted to a proposed Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) centre currently being planned in Poland. The Upper Silesia Centre of Doplhinotherapy claims they will be able to cure people of a myriad of diseases including brain tumours, coma, cleft spine, four limb paralysis, and meningitis and sight damage. In reality dolphin therapy has been proven to be no more effective than petting domestic animals and there is certainly no evidence that it could cure the diseases claimed by this facility.

It is currently unclear where the animals destined for this facility are to come from, but many dolphins (and whales) used in therapy sessions and swim with dolphin programmes are still wild caught. This process is extremely stressful to all animals in the pod, even those left behind and often ends in the death of some animals, as they become entangled in nets or injured during the capture process.

The Polish Animal Protection Act, Article 17, Section 1 states: 'Only animals born and bred in captivity may be used for training and shows designated for shows and entertainment, and only those to which it is possible to provide such living conditions that are appropriate to the need of a given species.' However it is well documented that even captive born dolphins have the same physiological urges to use their well-adapted skills and they also display many physical and mental problems in response to being kept in a tiny fraction of the space they need.

Rather than curing the patient dolphins can sometimes cause injury to the swimmer, due to the stress and frustration the animal undoubtedly feels being subjected to a life in captivity. Many injuries, some accidental but others deliberate have been documented at these facilities that go to great lengths to keep these incidents away from the public eye. There is also the danger of cross species infection as dolphins and humans can pass diseases to one another; again a fact the captivity industry tries hard to keep quiet.

Marine Connection is urging the Polish government to reconsider authorisation of this facility. The charity does not believe subjecting dolphins and whales to a lifetime in captivity can ever be justified; and furthermore that promoting this facility as therapy which is aimed at vulnerable members of society, who, understandably, will often try anything to help cure a loved one, is morally wrong and irresponsible.

Take action
Please write to the Minister of the Environment urging the government to reconsider their decision to allow this facility to proceed.

Mr Jan Szyszko
Minister of the Environment
Ministry of the Environment
52/54 Wawelska Str
00-922 Warsaw
Poland

fax 00 (+48 22) 5792224
Email the Minister via his spokesperson Mr Mazurek

Please forward a copy of any reply you receive to the charity via email or post to PO Box 2404, London, W2 3WG.