Brilliant news from our Australian partners Advocating Wild, with the announcement that Legislation has passed effectively banning the breeding and importation of captive dolphins in the state of New South Wales.
Throughout Australia (and New Zealand) there remains only 2 captive dolphin facilities, Dolphin Marine Conservation Park in NSW that holds 3 dolphins and the Sea World theme park on Queensland’s Gold Coast, currently stocked with approximately 28 dolphins.
In December 2019 the WCA’s co-chair of Campaigns and Founder of Advocating Wild, Sharyn Taylor made a submission on behalf of the WCA to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the use of exotic animals in circuses and the exhibition of cetaceans in NSW; this Inquiry led to the Legislative change.
Dolphin Marine Conservation Park (DMCP) in NSW welcomed the Inquiry and the subsequent changes to the Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Its Managing Director Terry Goodall said, “As an organisation we have publicly stated that we do not intend to breed dolphins,” and “Dolphin Marine Conservation Park is opposed to the removal of Cetacea from the wild for the express purpose of exhibition and/or breeding.”
Sadly, unlike DCMP’s progressive stance, Sea World’s bosses strongly opposed the ‘breeding ban,’ instead insisting on continuing the archaic practice of keeping and breeding these large sentient marine mammals into an unnatural ‘theme park’ environment.
“This welcome legislation, unfortunately, does not affect Sea World on the Gold Coast or its captive dolphins, whom my team has been focused on for the past 8 years,” said Sharyn. “However it will make Sea World the only facility left in our region that continues to breed dolphins purely to maintain the longevity of its entertainment business.”
“All eyes now turn to Sea World,” continued Sharyn, “and the pressure will well and truly be on its new owners, Private Equity Firm BGH Capital PTY LTD, who to date have remained silent on the issue of its animal captivity and breeding. “
“The public are evolving, becoming more informed, says Sharyn and for Sea World the writing is on the wall. It’s only a matter of time and it too will be facing the prospect of a breeding ban in Queensland and when that day comes — we will be well and truly ready.“
To see all submissions and reports relating to this Inquiry click here: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2555#tab-reportsandgovernmentresponses
To contact BGH Capital about the welfare of its animals: https://www.bghcapital.com
Comments