Dear Source:
Coral World’s curator, Lee Keller, emphasized the three advantages of establishing a dolphin exhibit at Coral World on St. Thomas are education, entertainment and economy.
Education
Education about dolphins should start with honoring these sentient, highly intelligent beings. Imprisoning them is not education.
Entertainment
Watching humans forced into coliseums with lions was once considered ‘entertainment’. Separating dolphins from their family and natural environment for their entire lifetime is extremely cruel.
Economy
The millions of dollars squandered or unaccounted for by our politicians would provide a much more humane and continuous source of revenue for the territory’s economy. They could start by paying their WAPA bill.
The original justification given by Coral World for the proposed dolphin exhibit not being animal abuse was "The dolphins were born in captivity." Human slaves were also born in captivity. That in no way minimized their suffering. Not until these dolphin prisons are prevented will these wild creatures be allowed to remain free.
Anne Marie Porter
St. John
