Vote NO for Tanya......PLEASE!!

deeppeace · #1 December 16th, 2005

Hi DeeperBlue friends

Best wishes to you all for the upcoming holiday season.

Never have I wanted to hear the word "No" so much. Please can you take 2 seconds to visit the following website to vote AGAINST a captive dolphin facility being established in the Cayman Islands. Hopefully, if the bid is unsuccessful it will also make other people looking to establish such attractions think again.

For those of you who don't want to read my soapbox lecture

then please quickly go to www.caycompass.com and scroll to the bottom of the page to vote. (If you are FOR torturing helpless, yet exceedingly intelligent animals, then please forget you ever read this!)

I have been a spokesperson for the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society for some years now, and I promise you that my opinion is well informed (from both sides of the story), so please believe what I tell you on this issue. When marine mammals are captured in the wild it causes enormous negative impact not only on the animals seized, but also to the pod that is left behind. Many die in the capture process, and 10% of all captured animals who make it as far as their concrete tanks or sea pens (these are hardly any more humane) will die WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR. You know how stress effects us humans, especially the impact on our immune system - well it's very similar for marine mammals. The WDCS's "Dying To Entertain You Campaign" has a lot of information about all of this. Visit www.wdcs.org for more info. Yes, there are dolphins in captivity that were bred in captivity, but the per centage of these animals vs. wild caught is very small. Also, simply having them perpetuates the idea that it's OK. (The Cayman dolphins are NOT bred in captivity.) Any animal that doesn't survive as long in captivity as it would in the wild is obviously NOT suitable for captivity.

I could go on and on about this, but I fear I will lose you! Just go to www.caycompass.com at the bottom of the page and vote NO.

Please!! Help me to protect these beautiful animals which we seek to emmulate as freedivers. They need us as much as we need them.

Tanya Streeter
PS - If you have any questions or need further information before you vote, just ask!!

Erik · #2 December 16th, 2005

I voted 'no'. Your post looked as if Tanya was advocating FOR the dolphin capture. Now I see that this is you (Tanya) posting..

I can't stand whale shows/rides/aquariums, they make me gag. There is no excuse for them and anyone stating that they help educate kids etc is either full of horseshit or fooling themselves.
If you want to see dolphins, get in the water and earn the experience I say. If not, watch them on the Discovery Channel.
Peace,
Erik Y.

DeepThought · #3 December 16th, 2005

Voted 'no' a couple of days ago when this issue was brought up on a yahoo list.
Also posted in 2 Israeli diving forums about this and it seems like I dragged some more votes.

I hope this poll can actually save some dolphins.

land shark · #4 December 16th, 2005

Done deed kiddo!!

It makes me wanna cry when folks want to imprison creatures that you can have contact with in the wild. Without harming them.!

thanks for the concern Tanya

jim

SeaWitch · #5 December 17th, 2005

Done! Thanks for letting us know.

ADR · #6 December 17th, 2005

me too - thanks for bringing it to our attention

laminar · #7 December 17th, 2005

Hi Tanya,

I voted "no" with a comment and will post this on our freediving lists in Canada.

Thanks!

Pete

rcerdena · #8 December 17th, 2005

Already voted ''no''.

Cheers,

Roberto

deeppeace · #9 December 17th, 2005

Thanks so much guys! Forward the web address and info to friends and family over email if you have time.....and keep your fingers crossed that we will make a difference. It's kind of hard for me to fight against something happening on my home island, but I can't stand the thought of Cayman sinking this low for a tourist buck. If you're stuck for a comment to but int he box provided, say you wont visit the island at all if they have a marine mammal facility there.

T
X

sp9hzx · #10 December 17th, 2005

Hi Tanja,

I have put your post into some spearfishing forums.
I am sure that all spearos and freedivers will help.

Your post is also on biggest amateur radio forum www.qrz.com
Amateur radio guys will come wit help ,too

Andy

www.qsl.net/sp9hzx

feign · #11 December 17th, 2005

Voted no. We had a dolphin die prematurely in captivity up here a few years ago. The other dolphin partner had to be shipped out because they feared it was also going to die due to physiologic sequelae from depression of losing it's friend (and I guess it's only connection to real life). From what I understand 'they' still don't know why the marine mammals like dolphin and orca have their dorsal fins flop over when in captivity. Hmmm..simple answer - their spirits are broken. I agree with Erik, if you get an opportunity to see one of these amazing beings in their natural habitat, consider yourself blessed. Otherwise, we can imagine or dream.

Lee

shaneshac · #12 December 17th, 2005

Just voted NO!!

matrixed82 · #13 December 17th, 2005

voted no

naiad · #14 December 17th, 2005

I voted no.

fcallagy · #15 December 17th, 2005

just voted no with the comment that they will lose more dive tourists and their families and that eco tourism is growing at a huge rate. Warn them about their potential loss of revenue to get their attention I think rather that try to get through to them about the animals welfare. Unusal to see a vote on it in the first place and its up to 62.8% at present and will surely rise further. Tanya did you get them to put the vote up or did they do it themselves to see what kind or reaction they will get ?
Regards Feargus