RWS management declined to meet dolphin activist

Well-known American dolphin activist Ric O'Barry had flown into Singapore hoping to make an appeal in person to the management of Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) for the release of the 25 dolphins it plans to showcase at its upcoming Marine Life Park. But his plans were thwarted when RWS declined to meet with him.

The 72-year-old and representatives from animal welfare group Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres), who had earlier sent in two other requests, turned up unannounced at RWS' corporate office on Monday to meet with RWS chief executive Tan Hee Teck to hand him the petition.

When he arrived, he was told Mr Tan was unavailable and the petition was passed on to an RWS employee.

When asked why RWS had declined to meet the activist, a spokesman Krist Boo told ST that it had "no reason to meet Mr O'Barry, whose agenda is to seek the release of the dolphins."

RWS has engaged dolphin rescue and rehabilitation expert Robin Friday from Miami, US, as acting consultant for its programme at the Marine Life Park.

When Mr O'Barry got wind that Mr Friday was also in town, he challenged him to a public debate but Mr Friday, who is in his 60s, declined saying he has no interest in debating him.

ORIGINAL SOURCE

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