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April 2008 - Der Betreiber des Delfinariums im Heidepark in Soltau, Merlin-Entertainments, gab im April 2008 bekannt, dass die Anlage noch dieses Jahr geschlossen wird.

Begründung: Das Unternehmen vertritt weiterhin den Standpunkt, dass derartige Einrichtungen den Tieren keinesfalls gerecht werden. Meeressäuger und Walartige sind in Gefangenschaft nicht artgerecht zu halten.

Offizielle Aussage des englischen Betreibers

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS

 Dolphin and Sea Lion Policy

Merlin Entertainments is acknowledged as one of the world’s most knowledgeable and ethical operators of marine attractions.  The company operates the largest aquarium brand in the world  - SEA LIFE, welcoming 6m visitors a year through its 28 aquarium and Marine Sanctuary attractions.  Indeed it is to SEA LIFE that other organisations often turn when they are looking for support in the rescue and rehabilitation of seals, turtles, dolphins and other marine life.  

Additionally SEA LIFE does significant work in marine breeding and research – most recently its extensive programme on seahorse behaviour; and to promote the company’s highly influential SOS (Save Our Seas) conservation campaigns. The latest of these, launched earlier this month, “SOS Innocent Victims” is a programme designed to highlight issues relating to ‘secondary’ catches in the fishing industry.

The company has very clear policies relating to which species we believe can prosper in captivity, and the overall care of the creatures in all the aquariums.   We fundamentally oppose the keeping of dolphins in captivity.

However our acquisitions of both Gardaland and Heide Park have also brought with them Sea Lions and Dolphins as part of their offer.

We were immediately able to make the decision to close both of the Sea Lion shows, as well as revising the format of the dolphin presentations to eliminate any ‘performance’ elements, and instead to deliver educational messages relating to dolphin biology and conservation.

Our biological team have also been working hard, with a number of conservation bodies, to look at the future for our Dolphin populations. Simply releasing them into the wild is not an option, as most were born in captivity and our stance has always been that the creatures are better being looked after by our expert teams, until we have worked out the best long term future for the them.

As a result of this working with our partners, we have been able to make the decision that the dolphin show at Heide Park will close at the end of the 2008 season, and we are in discussions with various groups to locate an appropriate new home for the two creatures.    

We will continue to work with our partners to decide the best way forward for our remaining populations but are adamant that the welfare of the creatures will be paramount in our decisions

31.10.08 - Heide-Park Soltau schläfert Delfin ein - Verbleibende Delfine sollen in Betonloch nach Nürnberg - http://www.presseportal.de/pm/43450/1293037/journal_society_gmbh