State asks Pune institute to address concerns over proposed dolphin park in Sindhudurg

The proposal,which received in-principle approval from chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in October 2011,would have been a dolphin and water theme park along the coastline of Sindhudurg,similar to ‘Sea World’ in Orlando,USA.

It was also supposed to have a giant aquarium,to train dolphins, and visitor facilities like theme restaurants.

However,the MoEF letter had stated that Central Zoo Authority had observed that “similar proposals received in the past and those who acquired dolphins/other live marine animals lead to the death of the animals because of ill-preparedness on part of management and inadequate care of the animals that are so difficult to maintain in captivity.”

It,therefore,asked the state government “not to entertain the construction of Dolphinarium/Water Park at Sindhudurg.”

Meanwhile,state tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal said,Science and Technology Park,Pune — an institute jointly set up by the Ministry of Science and Technology,Government of India and University of Pune — is being consulted to address the concerns.

The project had received in-principle approval based on the interim technical feasibility report prepared by the same institute.

“They will now come up with a detailed project report and chart out the plan as to how to go about it,” Bhujbal said.

Sources said concerns raised by renowned dolphin expert Rick O’ Barry,director of Earth Island Institute’s Dolphin Project and who featured in the Oscar winning movie ‘The Cove’,— which exposed dolphin slaughter in Japan — are also being considered.

Barry recently wrote to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan,urging him to “take immediate action to stop the Sindhudurg proposal before it proceeds.”

Barry,who has over 40 years’ experience with marine mammals and has worked extensively with captive dolphins,said these creatures cannot cope in artificial environments and a tank or aquarium,however large it is,can never compare to the vast ocean habitat.

“Dolphins in aquariums-even those born in captivity- quickly become depressed,stressed and volatile. These exceedingly intelligent animals know they are not where they are supposed to be…It is clear that keeping them in captivity is morally and ethically indefensible.”