Photo of cages at the resort, from Nature is Awesome by WChinner.
WChinner asked around at the resort and was given to understand that the cages are "for dolphins apparently coming from America. These dolphins will be caged in the waters off Awana Porto Malai as their acclimatisation program." After which, "they will be transferred to Singapore".
Read WChinner's full post with more information in this follow up post. In particular, she observed that Resorts World Sentosa and Awana Porto Malai are both under the same umbrella ie. Genting Groups of Malaysia.
Her Nature is Awesome blog also has lots of information and lovely photos about her beautiful Langkawi mangroves and shores as well as the many issues affecting them.
This is news to me!
So far, I only know of the several wild dolphins from the Solomon Islands that were sent to the Philippines for eventual transfer to Resorts World Sentosa.
Here's some previous posts about the dolphins from the Solomon Islands
- CITES to scrutinise Solomon Islands dolphin trade
- Solomon dolphin forum a farce: annual export quota set at 100 dolphins
- Solomon Islands to host forum on international dolphin trade
- Resorts World Sentosa: at what price?
- Singapore SPCA speaks out against wild dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa
- Another 11 Solomon dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa
- Facebook Group: Boycott Sentosa Marine Life Park
- What will the Solomon dolphins go through in the Philippines? Some background of the facilities that will train them.
- Confirmation that the 7 dolphins are going to Resorts World Sentosa and what the dolphins cost
- First hints that the 7 dolphins were going to Resorts World Sentosa.
- Universal Studios distances itself from dolphins at Resorts World Sentosa.
- More about dolphins in general: their status, threats and other issues, on the wildsingapore news blog.
Media reports on the issue
- 18 dolphins from Solomon Islands destined for Singapore are stranded in Subic Tonette Orejas, Philippine Daily Inquirer 5 Feb 10;
- Earth Island wants total export ban on dolphins from the Solomon Islands Solomon Star 5 May 09;
- Solomon dolphin trade to be scrutinized by CITES Earth Times 28 Apr 09
- Philippines asked to return dolphins to the Solomon Islands Solomon Star 16 Jan 09;
- Dolphins at the Sentosa Integrated Resort: Senator cites Mexico's sad experience with dolphins Grace Chua, Straits Times 12 Jan 09;
- Singapore warned on dolphin imports for Resorts World Sentosa The Solomon Star 31 Dec 08;
- Animal activists decry need to import wild dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa Grace Chua, Straits Times 27 Dec 08;
More links
- Facebook group I will boycott Resorts World Sentosa and its Marine Life Park
- SUFFERING, NOT SMILING: The Truth About Captive Dolphins on the Acres website.
