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Animal rights group and Dubai residents call for evidence of whale shark’s release
Campaigners are calling for Dubai’s Atlantis hotel to disclose details surrounding the release of its controversial whale shark amid speculation over the fate of the giant fish.
International campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) branded the release “secretive” after the five-star resort refused to publicly discuss the decision to free the creature, provide photographs of the release or share details on how the female’s progress can be tracked by the public or marine researchers not associated with Atlantis.
Rumours have also surfaced on various web sites and forums that the creature may have been ill before she was released or is even dead.
Questions raised after ‘secretive’ release of Atlantis whale shark
PETA’s Asia director Jason Baker said: “We are concerned about her condition and hope Atlantis clarifies this soon.
She has been imprisoned in an environment that could never compare to the vast ocean she was used to.
Captivity creates a whole new set of health problems for whales and other marine mammals.
Most captive whales and dolphins, even in the ‘best’ captive enclosures, never reach old age.”
Adrian Steyn, a Dubai-based whale shark campaigner, said the secrecy surrounding the release would fuel speculation.
“The fact they are not releasing information is raising a justifiable level of suspicion.
The obvious standpoint now is that the whale shark has been released to save Atlantis embarrassment because they could not afford to have it die in their care.
The information about its tagging and progress is critical and should be shared with everyone - especially marine researchers who are still in the dark.”
Atlantis has remained, as ever, tight-lipped on the subject even as online campaigners are fearing the worst.
One person posted on a facebook site dedicated to the animal: “Atlantis are not normally publicity shy, its opening is proof
of that. So why did Atlantis keep the release of the whale shark so quiet?”
Another poster asked: “Do you think she might be dead?”
The shark was caught off Jebel Ali in August 2008.
Atlantis has consistently refused to comment on her condition since then and only a short statement was issued when she was freed on Thursday.
7DAYS emailed questions to Atlantis yesterday and received a brief response which said the whale shark was in “good health”.
It also said the tagging device will begin to transmit information to a marine lab in Florida after three months. It did not say who would have access to the tagging data or comment on why the whale shark was relea-sed or why there are no photos of the release.
It has also removed any posts on its facebook page relating to the whale shark, including a list of questions posed by 7DAYS.
nichola.jones@7days.ae
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COMMENTS
Crunch, ever heard of a typo? Excuse me for having butter fingers! Clearly you have a brain in your head but refuse to use it. And no Sammy is not an IT, there are male and females, how do you expect them to breed if not the case? Did you skip biology at school? As a matter of fact there are many species of animal that are far smarter than many people! What do you think you are? You're nothing more than a human animal, the fact that you can talk, build and destroy things does not make you superior.
Posted by: Akasha [24.Mar.10 12 : 04 PM]Sounds like the Divine Ms X is back!
Posted by: veritas [23.Mar.10 4 : 29 PM]I pity all the pretentious crying hearts who still call the shark SHE. If you want to be on the same level as an animal, that is fine with me. Just don't bring down the rest of us to that level. Read carefully what I wrote without making any ignorant assumptions, before you let your stupidity flow freely.
Posted by: Crunch [23.Mar.10 3 : 43 PM]Not a bad troll there Crunch. As for the topic at hand; it does seem rather odd that the Atlantis (arguably the best example of Dubai's desperate need for attention) is keeping quiet.
Posted by: Fat Bhoy Tim [23.Mar.10 1 : 20 PM]Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it! Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting. Mr. Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead SHARK when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now. Owner: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable SHARK, the SHARK WHALE, idn'it, ay? For those of us who remember Monty Python..!!
Posted by: Baloo [23.Mar.10 1 : 17 PM]... and one more things Akasha, I've had it with "educated" people like you who don't know what an "exco" system is. Hopefully you can enlighten me on that one. In the meantime, if you want, I can refer to you as IT since you can't differentiate between both.
Posted by: Crunch [23.Mar.10 12 : 29 PM]@crunch and i hope you wouldn't remain ignorant. i pity you.
Posted by: abdulinamagkarem [23.Mar.10 12 : 12 PM]Crunch, silly, ignorant people like you with your daft comments are not wanted thanks very much. Sammy and HER kind are crucial to the ocean's well being and exco-stystems. But of course silly people likeyou couldn't possibly comprehend the importance of such a beautiful species, which has been brought to the verge of exstinction by stupid people like you.
Posted by: Akasha [23.Mar.10 11 : 51 AM]If they have an about turn on capture, what of the Dolphins that were netted in the sea in the Solomon to be slapped on the head by tourists? They will probably stay though as they would be the most important stream of revenue for that pretentious palace. I hope the same for the management in their next lives.
Posted by: nolongerindubai [23.Mar.10 11 : 11 AM]I was surprised to read that Atlantis released the whale and my first reaction was why this sudden u-turn on their stance. The lack of proof and photos made me curious as it wasnt Atlantis style to do things on the quiet. So whats going on here Atlantis - your biggest PR opportunity and total silence. Mmmm!
Posted by: A. A. Ali [23.Mar.10 9 : 47 AM]First, she was caught in the Dubai Marina not Jebel Ali and second, of course she WAS in good health but whats up with her NOW???
Posted by: Jebel Ali Baba [23.Mar.10 9 : 40 AM]IT is a fish. IT is not a SHE regardless if IT is the biggest fish or an endangered species IT remains and IT.
Posted by: Crunch [23.Mar.10 9 : 40 AM]KEEP YOURSELF UPDATED
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