Updates On 9th Feb 2013
ACRES 
Feb 9, 2013 
ACRES, NGOs 
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ACRES remains puzzled by the comments from RWS and AVA in response to our appeal (see The Straits Times article below):
1. “When contacted, the AVA said it visited RWS during a fireworks display in January but found that the dolphins were not affected”.
According to scientific research, anthropogenic noise is a known stressor for cetaceans, which have very sensitive hearing.
How did AVA ascertain that the dolphins were not affected, which appears to contradict the scientific studies and the statement by the Animal Welfare Board of India which stated that “The sensitive hearing of cetaceans is well-established and numerous studies, many on-going, are documenting the harmful effects that anthropogenic noise can have on them.”
2. “A spokesman said the park is designed so that activities around it will not impact animals inside it.”
Does RWS really believe that the dolphins couldn’t hear the fireworks? How can open-air enclosures be soundproof?
Acres seeks probe into fireworks near RWS dolphins
Jessica Lim
The Straits Times 9 Feb 13
NON-PROFIT animal rights group Acres has called on the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to investigate possible animal cruelty by Resorts World Sentosa. The issue is a 12-minute fireworks display held near the enclosures of the wild-caught dolphins at the integrated resort in December.
“The fireworks displays may have compromised the dolphins’ welfare, as the close proximity and loud noises may have disorientated and distressed them,” said Mr Louis Ng, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) chief executive yesterday. When contacted, the AVA said it visited RWS during a fireworks display in January but found that the dolphins were not affected. The Straits Times understands this display was on a smaller scale but at a similar location.
Marine Life Park – where the dolphins are housed – has refuted Acres’ allegations. A spokesman said the park is designed so that activities around it will not impact animals inside it.
However, Mr Ng said that it was impossible to prevent the sound of fireworks from reaching the dolphins in an open-air enclosure. Cetaceans – a group of mammals that include whales, dolphins and porpoises – are known to have sensitive hearing, he said, adding that scientific research has shown that noise is a known cause of stress for them.
Acres had previously made an appeal to RWS to refrain from setting off the fireworks.
The fireworks were set off on Dec 7 and Dec 8 to mark RWS’ grand opening night. Its Marine Life Park, which opened on Nov 22, has been dogged by controversy since plans to house dolphins there were announced. The dolphin enclosure is not yet open to the public.
Animal rights groups including Acres and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had called for RWS to abort its plans for the dolphins as early as 2009. The calls grew louder in 2010 when two dolphins died at a holding area in Langkawi in Malaysia, and when one of the 25 dolphins died on its way to Singapore in November last year.
When contacted, a spokesman from Marine Life Park said that the dolphins were “doing well”.
“We place the highest priority on the health and comfort of all our animals, and would never, under any circumstances, compromise their well-being in any way,” he said.
When contacted, the AVA confirmed that they received an e-mail request from Acres yesterday. “We will continue to monitor the well-being of the dolphins at RWS,” said its spokesman.
Source: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151298556071523&set=a.223077136522.136042.22159071522&type=1&relevant_count=1
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