Phuket’s Irish Times opens doors for captive dolphin debate [video]

PHUKET: Local marine conservationists and animal right activists will be hosting an event at the Irish Times pub at Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong on October 16 to discuss the implications of capturing dolphins in the wild and keeping them in captivity.

Dolphin trainer turned animal rights activist Ric O’Barry, well-known for his role in the Academy-award winning documentary The Cove, will be joining the discussion via Skype, confirmed the event organizer, Vicki Kiely.

“This is an evening to discuss the captive dolphin industry and its links to Taiji in Japan. It is very relevant to the Nemo Dolphinarium set to open soon here in Phuket, as five of the dolphins coming here are Taiji-caught wild dolphins that watched their families slaughtered in a blood bath and indescribable pain in front of them, before being transported to Ukraine,” Ms Kiely explained.

Though it was long suspected that at least some of the dolphins destined for Phuket’s dolphinarium were from Taiji cove, it wasn’t until September 12 that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society could confirm the news (story here).

Clips from The Cove, along with other footage from documentaries relevant to the discussion will be shown before the floor is opened up for questions and answers.

A total of 15 per cent of all sales during the event will be donated by the Irish Times to Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project.

The event is free and will run from 7pm to 10pm.

— Isaac Stone Simonelli