'In the United States, the government has helped many people make billions of dollars capturing dolphins and putting them in tanks. So why shouldn’t our government do the same thing?”
This is the statement Richard O’Barry and I encountered frequently during our visit to Anguilla. The purpose of our trip: To stop the establishment of yet another Captive Dolphin Swim Program. The plan was proposed by American citizen Graham Simpson and has been approved by the Anguillan government.
Anguilla is one of Britains Overseas Territories, self-governing with its own parliamentary system. It is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean. Anguilla’s economy depends heavily on tourism, and people come from around the world to enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches of the Caribbean. Anguilla has suffered seven major hurricanes in the last five years, causing a devastating blow to the island’s draw as a tourist destination. According to Principal Planning Officer Vincent Proctor – who was not on the board when Simpson’s project was proposed and approved – the dolphin tank was approved because the government seeks to create more attractions for the tourists that come to the island. “The construction of the dolphin tank has created jobs for Anguillians who would otherwise not be able to feed their children,” he says. No doubt, it is the prosperity of a viable tourist attraction that motivated the Anguillian government to allow Simpson to construct a swimming pool in his own backyard and fill it with six dolphins to be used for “therapy of physically and emotionally handicapped individuals.”
So far, when asked where the dolphins were captured and where they are currently held, Simpson and his wife Pam Pike have refused to answer. At some point, Simpson said the dolphins would be sent from Miami, USA. We know this to be untrue.
In Anguilla, a small group of people have worked hard to raise awareness of the plight of captive dolphins. They want to remain anonymous for the time being, as they are under a tremendous amount of pressure, being the sole people on the island of about 12000 to speak out against dolphin captivity. In Anguilla, non-residents can apply for belongership after 15 years of living on the island. The application is not automatically approved, and one Anguillian Government official tells us that these people have put their belongership in jeopardy, simply by expressing their opposition to keeping dolphins captive.
According to the “Environmental Assessment Report” for Simpson’s project -- prepared in September 1997 by BIOIMPACT INC, Kinshill, St. Croix, Us Virgin Islands -- the proposed so-called “dolphin lagoon” will consist of poured concrete and concrete block and hold one and a half million gallons of seawater. The tank will measure a total of 23000 square feet, its depth an estimated 16 feet. A wooden structure will provide shade for the dolphins.
Simpson does not think that the size of the tank is at all relevant as far as the dolphins’ welfare is concerned. In the “Dolphin Lagoon Handout” -- a five-page praise of the capture and confinement of dolphins – it is stated as follows: “The size and configuration of pools must meet all requirements defined by the federal government. There is no evidence that pool sizes beyond the minimum are significant to the animals’ health.”
The claim is also made that “there has been no demonstrated correlation between survivorship and pool volume or pool depths or complexity of furnishings.”
Simpson’s project consists of two parts: a dolphin tank and a sea enclosure. As amazing as it sounds, Simpson’s plan is to move the dolphins back and forth between the tank and the sea enclosure. The process is described in the “Environmental Assessment Report: “A lift will be provided to lift the dolphins out of the pool and allow them to play in the off shore enclosure.” In another paragraph it is phrased this way: “In order to provide the dolphins a “free-time” area, an offshore enclosure is proposed. () The dolphins will then be lifted from the lagoon into the netted enclosure, so that they can enjoy free time in the natural environment.”
The report provides no information as to how the dolphins – once the hazardous task of lifting them over the rocky shoreline and into the ocean has been accomplished – will be trained to renter the lift in order to be hauled back to their small tank. Having studied the drawings of the lift O’Barry concludes that none of this is real. The illusion is created that the dolphins will be given time off in a natural sea pen. The whole concept of the lift is a giveaway that these people don’t know what they are doing and have no experience in marine mammals husbandry. The government has approved a project they don’t really understand themselves. It is a classic case of the blind leading the blind.
On December 9, we inspect the dolphin tank in Simpson’s backyard, which is located in Mead’s Bay, on the north shore of Anguilla. It is one of the smallest dolphin tanks we have ever seen, and the fact that it has been built just a few feet from the edge of the crystal clear ocean makes for an even more bizarre picture. There is no sign of the proposed sea pen which we now discover would have to built in an area where heavy seas would soon tear it down. It become clear that the concept of the se pen is not real -- further evidence that these people simply don’t know what they doing. Indeed, the description “lagoon” is very deceptive.
The facility has no filtration system, no medical pen for emergencies, and provides no shade for the dolphins.
We also discover that the outfall from the tank is built directly on the public beach.
The tank has been under construction for a long time. We are told its construction was approved in late 1997. Needless to say, it would have been much easier to stop this project if we had launched the campaign before the tank was actually built. According to one government official who wishes to remain anonymous, no objections were made when the tank was first proposed. “Now, it’s too late. If the government pulls Simpson’s permit, he can sue the government and win.” According to many of the Anguillian residents we speak to, they did not hear about the project till it has already been approved. “The project came as a total surprise to me,” one woman says. She tells us that the school children of Anguilla started a petition against the dolphin tank. “They collected about 300 signatures. But Pam Pike complained about the petition and it was stopped immediately. That tells you something about the freedom of speech in Anguilla.”
While the government-owned radio station in Anguilla does not wish to air an interview with O’Barry, a private radio station welcomes the opportunity to hear his point of views, and on December 10, radio show host known as Ras B. greets O’Barry in his studio. During the interview O’Barry accounts the reasons why dolphins do not belong in captivity. He also talks about the many letters that were sent to the government, opposing the dolphin tank. Many of these letters declare that a boycott of Anguilla will be implemented if indeed the dolphins arrive. It is the threat of a boycott that caught the government’s attention, and many people of Anguilla are upset at the prospect of a boycott that would impose further economic problems for the island. O’Barry makes it very clear that he is against the boycott. “Punishing all Anguillians for the wrongdoings of one man -- Simpson -- is simply wrong,” he says.
On December 12, O’Barry is scheduled to give a talk at the Anguilla Library, to share his experiences in regards to dolphins. Simpson has been invited to attend the event but he will only come if the following conditions are met:
1.The event must be split in two parts, allowing O’Barry 30 minutes of speaking time and Simpson another 30 minutes.
2.Simpson must be given the advantage of being the last speaker.
3.Simpson will choose the moderator.
O’Barry, who feels that Simpson is trying to control the event, cannot not accept Simpson’s terms. “Simpson has had three years to make his points in favor of dolphin captivity. I am entitled to this one hour to explain to the Anguillan people why the captivity of dolphins is wrong,” he says.
About 200 people show up for the talk.. Most of them are supporters of Simpson, and never have we encountered such a hostile, aggressive group of people. They show no interest whatsoever in the hearing about dolphins. From the very beginning they make every attempt at disrupting O’Barry’s talk, interrupting him, and hurling racial slurs at him, such as “white pig,” and “go home, whitey.” “We don’t want no white people coming here telling what to do,” is the message. O’Barry makes it clear to them that he is against the proposed boycott, but nothing can be done to calm Simpson’s supporters down.
Meanwhile, Simpson is outside hiding in the shadows. At no time does he enter the library. Instead, he has someone videotape the event, while another of his supporters is busy distributing the five-page “Dolphin Lagoon Handout,” in which several references are made to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) of the United States, to substantiate the claim that the capture and display of dolphins are done humanely and legally.
The atmosphere grows increasingly tenser, and when one Anguillan runs up to the podium and takes the microphone away from O’Barry, he finally gives up. Someone in the group calls the police. It takes 9 phone calls for three policemen to show up. Had they not come, surely the situation would have erupted into violence. At this point we leave.
Upon returning to Miami Richard O'Barry sent this letter to newspapers and radio stations in Anguilla:
OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF ANGUILLA:
I came to your island to share with you my 40 years of experiences with dolphins. I wanted you to know how deceptive and abusive the captive dolphin slave trade is. Had you allowed me to speak, I think many of you would reconsider whether Anguilla should allow Graham Simpson to make Anguilla become part of the industry that makes its living capturing and exploiting dolphins. Unfortunately, my talk was disrupted by a number of very angry and hostile people, and this letter is for you.
I can fully understand your anger at those who threaten to boycott Anguilla. I know that you have suffered several major hurricanes in the last few years, and the last thing you need is a boycott. Punishing all the people of Anguilla for the wrongdoings of one individual – Mr. Simpson – is simply wrong. I will do all I can to stop the boycott. I tried to tell you so at my talk, but the microphone was taken away from me.
To those of you who chose to turn the dolphin captivity issue into a racial issue, please allow me to say the following: Had you let me talk, you would have learned that I was a card carrying member of the NAACP before the riots in Selma Alabama in the early 1960s. During that period, hundreds of people marched, protested, and were arrested with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and I was one of them. I came to Anguilla as an individual who was simply practicing his freedom of speech. Being able to speak freely, regardless of your country of origin and the color of your skin, is crucial in a free and democratic society.
One remark my wife and I encountered frequently during our stay in Anguilla was this: “In the United States you keep dolphins captive. Why can’t we?” As a former dolphin trainer, I have witnessed firsthand the suffering imposed on captive dolphins. I have spoken out against the capture and confinement of dolphins worldwide, including the United States where the captures of dolphins have become so controversial they no longer take place. Enslaving highly intelligent, free ranging, social, and sonic creatures is not the solution to your economic problems. Repeating the mistakes of the Unites States is not your salvation. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Real education is about getting all the information and making up your own mind. The fact remains that you have only heard this issue from one side: Mr. Simpson’s. Ask him where and how the dolphins for his substandard dolphin tank were captured. Ask him how many dolphins have died in these killing tanks all over the world. Ask him how dolphins are controlled with food so that will perform circus tricks and endure the constant pressure of being treated as pets. The causes of death among captive dolphins are appalling: Dolphins have died from shock at capture. They have died from drowning, malnutrition, and from crashing into the wall of their tank. They have died during transport. A great number of them have died from stress related diseases. I brought you the documentation to prove it, but you wouldn’t let me show it to you. To you, I was just a white outsider whom you could vent your anger and frustration at. I was an easy target for you. And during all of this, Mr. Simpson cowardly stayed out of sight.
I have submitted documentation to The Anguillian newspaper that will prove that Mr. Simpson has a record of starting projects like this and running away without paying his bills when the projects fail.
These documents from the US Bankruptcy Court, District of Nevada, case No. –N 99-30216-gwz Chapter 11, for example, show that Mr. Simpson still owes 19 creditors well over one million US dollars. If anyone has any doubt regarding this matter, the names, addresses, and phone numbers of these creditors are on the documents. Feel free to contact them yourself.
Mr. Simpson has tricked you with the prospect of money and jobs. I predict that one day you are going to wish you had never allowed for this man to bring captive dolphins to Anguilla. By then, it will probably be too late.
In closing, I would to like to say that if I offended anyone in Anguilla during my brief stay on your island, I apologize and ask your forgiveness. I am looking forward to returning to your lovely island and having a public debate with Mr. Simpson about the ethics of the captive dolphin slave trade.
Sincerely,
Richard O’Barry
Anguilla Update, January-February 2001:
According to the “Daily Herald” of Anguilla, January 11, 2001, six Cuban dolphins -- 4 females and 2 males -- arrived in Anguilla on the evening of January 9 aboard a Russian charter plane from Cuba through St. Maarten, where they were transferred to a smaller aircraft.
Graham Simpson’s wife, Pam Pike, is described in the article as a trainer and quoted as saying that the dolphins need time to acclimate to their new environment and that visitors will not be able to visit the Dolphin Lagoon till advised. Other trainers are Anne Blount, Julio Cabrea, and Scott Rutherford.
According to the article, two dolphins are in quarantine. Vets on site are Georgia and Mike Paul and Dr. Bossett, who “are making sure that the dolphins are in good health and already are giving them vitamins and supplements to ensure this.”
The article informs that the training of the dolphins will start immediately, but no programs are expected to be ready till 4-6 months from now. However, the public will be given a chance to view the dolphins and training procedures before then.
The article goes on to say that “The Dolphin Lagoon has been under construction since 1998 and is owned by Dr. Graham Simpson. The project conforms to international standards, including water quality, nutrition, social grouping, transport and medical treatment.” It is added that Simpson “hopes to exceed the Animal Welfare Act standards and the health and well being of the dolphins will hold absolute precedence over all other interests.”
Simpson told the Daily Herald that the Dolphin Lagoon will be “primarily educational and will teach respect for all living creatures and the natural environment in which we live.” Of course there is not a word from Simpson about how the six Cuban dolphins were violently taken from their vast ocean world to be sentenced to lifelong confinement and commercial exploitation.
The name 'Dolphin Lagoon' was later changed to Dolphin Fantaseas. Please look for updates on the company here.
