Report from Belgium - Free Dolphins Belgium

Current situation of dolphinaria
in Belgium
“The battle against the Boudewijn Seapark”
Dolphinaria-Free Europe Conference
March 2014
Msc Jane Reniers
Yvon Godefroid
Belgian dolphinaria – a timeline
Facility
Open
Close
Transfer
Wellen
1968
1969
France
Antwerp
1969
1999
Germany
Bruges
1972
current
The
Netherlands
(Harderwijk),
Italy, Portugal
(Zoomar)
Wavres
1976
1984
Paris, Egypt,
Switserland
Huy
1977
1978
The
Netherlands
Boudewijn Seapark dolphins
a story of death, repeated miscariages, transfers and bad
registration
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Founded in 1972, owned by Harderwijk
1972-1974: Only anectdotical information, no official registration
– Initially 4 wild caught bottlenose dolphins (Florida - Allan, Yogi, Kiana, Sherry)
– Later joined by 4 other wild caught bottlenose dolphins (Florida - Georges,
James, Hazel, Doris)
– transported back to Harderwijk on different occasions to gain back health
1974: Blank slate - 3 bottle nose dolphins from Harderwijk (Allan, Kiana and
Jasperina) - Others are “lost”
1977: Jasperina transferred
Born in Bruges (wildcaught father Tex)
1978: Jasperina transferred back, dies
Wild caught (Texas)
1987: Oshin is born
1988: fire, the three remaining dolphins die
Wild caught (Gulfport)
Boudewijn Seapark dolphins
a story of death, repeated miscariages, transfers and bad
registration
1988: Puck, Tex and Linda
(Wildcaught –Texas/Florida)
1988: 20 days later: Kim,
Roxanne, Terry, William
(wildcaught – Gulfport)
1988: Tommy is born
1989: Stillbirth (Kim) Kim
dies, William “dissapears”,
another stillbirth
1990: Skypi is born (Puck),
Fernando is born (Terry),
1991: Stillbirth (Linda)
stillborn, transfer Tommy
1993: Gorky is born
(Roxanne), transfer Gorky
1995: Simo is born (Roxanne) 2008: Linda is moved
1996: Luna birth (Roxanne), together with Mateo –but
soon separated
transfer unknown
1998: Yota is born (Puck), Flo Milo dies
is born (Terry), Marco is born, 2009: Beachy is brought in
transfer unkown (Roxanne), 2010: Stillbirth (Yota)
Stillbirth (Linda)
2011: Stillbirth twins
1999: Milo is born (Linda)
(Roxanne)
2002: Iggy is born (Roxanne), 2012: Stillbirth (Roxanne)
2003: Indy is born (Puck),
2012: Flo dies
Ocean is born (Roxanne)
Skypi dies, Terry dies, Mateo
is born (Linda), transfer Tex
Boudewijn Seapark dolphins
a story of death, repeated miscariages, transfers and bad
registration
Current situation:
6 bottlenose dolphins
Beachy, Roxanne, Puck, Ocean, Indy, Yotta
Rescued by Seaworld
Born in Bruges (wildcaught father Tex)
transported to Harderwijk
transported to Bruges Wild caught (Texas)
Wild caught (Gulfport)
Boudewijn Seapark infrastructure
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Inside pool, under large dome
Several sections
Never been updated (last year background)
Devoid of structure, no rocks, ornaments or algae
Front walls are made of transparent glass
5 filtration pumps
Belgian legal requirements:
3-5 dolphins: 275 m² - 20% of the pool: 5 m
- 80% of the pool: 3,5 m
Separation pool of 125 m² and 3,5 m depth
Per extra animal: 75 m²
Depth: 4,5-6m
Depth: 3m
Boudewijn Seaparks claims of existence
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Research
– On their site: reduce bycatch in trawlerfisheries, behavioral study, method to improve fetal
monitorring
– No peer reviewed papers
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Education
– Edusession for schools
– “did you know that dolphins live longer in dolphinaria than in nature (15 vs 22 years)”
– don’t need much space”, Plastic belongs in the ocean show
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Conservation
– EEP programme (not threathened, crossing ecotypes,…)
– Strange status of the "Dolphin Fund" supposed to help wild dolphins, etc.
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Social programme
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Dolphin Assisted therapy for disabled people, touch the dolphins, shows
– direct contact between the public and dangerous animals should be made impossible
Already dencounced by WDC and Born Free foundation
Yet high scores from EAAM in 2011
Steps towards a dolphinarium free Belgium
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1995-1998: manifestations for the dolphins of Antwerp
In 2004 big manifestation (GAIA, one voice, bite back, Ric O’barry etc)
Commission of Health and Environment issued check up by experts
(Dr. Jauniaux of Liege)
Yvon and GAIA vs experts T. Jauniaux , M. Hartmann (Duisburg Zoo)
a representative of Harderwijk Dolphinarium
May 2005: law proposition by the House of Representatives:
2 recommendations, no major issues
and
Ban any new establishment of dolphinariums on the Belgian territory
Creation of a commission charged to adapt standards concerning the detention of
dolphins in Belgium
Steps towards a dolphinarium free Belgium
• September 2005: 2 day visit by independent expert Dr. Toni Frohoff
– Many abnormal and disturbed behaviors:
• stereotyped circling, stereotyped abrupt body slaps, chuffing (sharp and repetitive
exhalations), repeated "begging", stereotyped "beaching" outside of water, "open
jaw“ displays towards audience members, abrupt head 'jerks‘
– Aggressive behavior:
• Dolphins displacing, snapping at, and slamming into other dolphins
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Too small, not even legal in Brazil
Lack of environmental enrichment
Very loud facility
Very limited educational programs
Positive balance up untill now
Steps towards a dolphinarium free Belgium
• 2006: breakdown in the discussions of the commission – only accepted
Dutch and French articles
• 2011: Creation of new Working Group within the Animal Welfare Board
• 2013: Big manifestation in Brussels, delegation welcomed by head of
animal welfare of FOD.
• 2014: Animal welfare commission issued advice
– Bottlenose dolphin not typically at risk for stereotypic behavior (not timid,
flexibility of behavior)
– Scientific studies do not show indications of stress for these species
“more of an ethical, educational and research discussion than animal
welfare”
– Recommends series of adjustments:
• Short term
• Long term
Steps towards a dolphinarium free Belgium
Short term (2 years)
• Up to date staff training
• Participation in scientific research in and ex situ
• The creation of committee of scientific advice in order to define the needs
and research and to supervise research projects
• Establishment of a programme to sensitize the public to the
environmental problems linked to dolphins
• The development of a long term collective plan
• Establishment of an educative program
• Multiple and varied activities with dolphins (scientific research, training,
games, shows) followed by an evaluation by the trainers
• An enhancement of the variation of their environment
Long term (12 years)
• Structural adjustments will be necessary
“not specifically because of welfare, but to respond to the demand by society”
• An exterior pool
• Variation in the design of pools
• Structural adjustments will be investigated by a commission with experts
• MR should be adjusted and aligned with the minimum standards laid
down by EAAM (European Association for Aquatic Mammals).
2 Animal welfare organisations signed, 2 refused
Conclusions - flawed documents and half
thruths
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Several errors eg life expectancy vs lifespan, calculating inappropriate indices
(datarelated and average and median)
Non peer reviewed references for main statements, written by local students
– Questionable datacollection and handling:
• Under best conditions
• Excludes Rubbing – Otherwise up to 17% for 4 main stressors
• No aggressive behavior (remember study of Frohoff in 2005)
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Partial quoting of studies:
• inquisitive and adaptive vs “main stressors in different species were artificial
lighting, loud noise, limited exercise, limited space, limited food acces, living in
unnatural groups, limited possibilities for expressing natural behavior”
(Morgan & Tromborg) + Social system of dolphins in captivity is very sensitive
to social incompatibility (eg Waples and Gales, 2002)
• Pool size does not matter (Wells, 2009, Gales, 2002; Akiyoshi et al., 2007)
Conclusions
• Acompaniment commission composition
• Very vague recommendations
– How much bigger?
– Natural behavior (traveling, communication, sonar, tricks and
beaching?)
• Noise during construction?
• Are all the pools accessible all the time?
• Door open for further expansion
Puck is old, Beachy is sick and has not sired live offspring – Aspro occio
• Another dolphinarium can still be opened
• In breach with Belgian law (1) depth, (2) close contact (adjustment Belgian
law to EAAM is in their favor)
• No law yet (Animal welfare to agriculture?)
Questions