Animal rights activists in heated exchanges with security at Ocean Park
'Empty the tanks'campaigners, facility staff involved in heated exchanges
Tempers flared at Ocean Park yesterday as animal rights activists faced off against security workers from the marine park, resulting in the closure of the main entrance escalator.
As tensions rose alongside the midday sun, there were heated exchanges between the group of about 30 campaigners and a contingent of Ocean Park staff and security.
The activists were part of the global "Empty the tanks" campaign, a movement aimed at shutting down aquariums that use dolphins and other cetaceans in live shows.
Ocean Park only cares about making money and getting tourists
According to the protesters, who carried a bloodied dolphin mock-up and placards with slogans such as "captivity kills", the shows are cruel and inhumane.
"It's against their nature. These are very natural animals that are supposed to swim thousands of miles. How can they be kept in tanks?" said Rosana Ng of the Jane Goodall Institute, who attended yesterday's demonstration at the park. "This is very inconsiderate to the animals. Ocean Park only cares about making money and getting tourists. We will continue to protest until all the tanks are emptied," she said
The park yesterday defended its use of the animals as inspirational and educational.
"While the park fully respects the views of different stakeholders in the community on dolphin conservation, its own wholehearted commitment to the cause of education cannot be emphasised more," it said.
"In essence, they [the dolphins] exist as an integral part of a bigger mission to inspire and educate the public on the importance of conserving the environment," Ocean Park added.
The theme park is home to 21 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. Much to the chagrin of visiting tourists, the protest resulted in the closure of the main entrance escalator after some activists scuffled with security.
There was also heated debate when Grant Abel, the park's director of animal care, came down to accept a petition from the protesters and got caught up in the angry exchanges.
"They sent their public relations officer and an education officer down to talk with us, but I don't think they heard our message," said Ng.
"I don't think they took anything on board."
