Casino whale sharks anger conservationists
SINGAPORE – Animal welfare groups have launched an online campaign opposing plans by a Singapore casino developer to import whale sharks for its planned aquarium.
Resorts World at Sentosa is building a casino that will feature a Marine Life Park set to become the world’s biggest seawater aquarium.
But the animal welfare organisations, including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, oppose having whale sharks in the facility.
“No man-made environment, no matter how large, could accommodate the needs of a whale shark,” they said in a statement.
“Whale sharks can dive up to 980 metres (3,234 feet) and migrate over 13,000 kms (8,060 miles) and evidence has shown that they fare poorly in captivity.”
They cited the case of two whale sharks that died within five months of each other in a “state-of-the-art” aquarium in the United States.
Campaign coordinator Jaki Teo told AFP, “We hope government organisations will support us on this because this concerns Singapore’s international image.
“It’s not just a tourist attraction, people will come and say ‘what’s a whale shark doing in Singapore?’.â€
Resorts World at Sentosa defended plans to include whale sharks in the oceanarium, saying the threat the animals faced “makes the role of aquariums in their conservation all the more crucial”.
Source: The Age
Ian Jarrett
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