Dolphins at Underwater World in 'satisfactory' condition: AVA

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Animal welfare groups Wildlife Watcher (Singapore) and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on Sunday published a report, detailing the "appalling" health of dolphins held at the Dolphin Lagoon as well as "sub-standard" conditions of other animals at Underwater World Singapore.

The report featured seven points detailing the investigations, including that of infrastructure degradation and wounds seen on the dolphins itself.

Members from both groups looked into the conditions and welfare of the pink dolphins at the Lagoon in July and August by sitting in on programmes featuring the animals.

Through these sessions, they logged seven hours of observation, videos and photos during the two days - Jul 23 and Aug 17, 2014 - they were at the tourists attractions on Sentosa.

Following feedback from Wildlife Watcher, AVA said in a statement that it inspected UWS and found the dolphins to be in "satisfactory condition". It noted that one of the dolphins is being treated for non-contagious skin cancer and that it is not used for animal performances.

An AVA spokesperson added that UWS is required to comply with AVA's licensing conditions and guidelines to ensure animal welfare and professional standards for the accomodation, management and acquisition of animals.

Commenting on the findings, ACRES Chief Executive Louis Ng said ACRES is "appalled by the conditions of the dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon". He added that it supports the campaign by Wildlife Watcher (Singapore).

"Dolphins clearly do not do well in captivity and belong in the vast open oceans. The global movement to end the keeping of dolphins in captivity is growing. ACRES hopes that companies in Singapore will make a moral and ethical decision to end the confinement of dolphins in captivity.”

Mr Ng also cited Switzerland as an example, noting that the keeping of dolphins or whales in zoos or waterparks will end, while India, too, banned the keeping of cetaceans, or marine mammals, in captivity.

Underwater World Singapore (UWS) responded to allegations by animal welfare groups that their animals were kept in "sub-standard" conditions, saying on Monday (Oct 27) that a pink dolphin at Dolphin Lagoon was actually suffering from a non-transmissable form of skin cancer.

"It is under the attentive care of our team of marine mammal trainers... Health checks are conducted regularly and the results show that, apart from the cancer, which is being specifically treated, the dolphin is generally in good health," said a spokesperson from Underwater World Singapore.

The oceanarium also said that the dolphin still enjoys playing with the other dolphins and is not being isolated from the others.

Responding to comments that their otters are being kept in "sub-standard conditions", Underwater World Sentosa said it offers the otters the "opportunity to explore different stimuli in different enclosures at both the front and the back of the house".

The spokesperson was, however, not able to comment on the other dolphins and animals mentioned in a report by Wildlife Watcher (Singapore) and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.