Whales and Dolphins in the U.K

30-10-2008

I don't think any whales will be kept in the UK for many yuears yet. If I remember UK law is very strict regarding this matter. It wouild be an expensive business to keep dolphins or whales.

30-10-2008

yes i have seen them at planete sauvage and barcelona zoo.

30-10-2008

good point, i didnt think of biota - had a quick look at the website, there is no metion of wales/dolphins, maybe the possobility of manatees and belugas....

30-10-2008

Amazon river dolphins could be a possabilite (if they import some), as it would go with the amazon themed area. good point Tigerlemurguy, manatees would fit in there aswell.
as bongorob said, there is no mention of any of them for biota! but (ading sealions aswell) commersons and atlantic bottlenose dolphins would fit with the atlantic, also pantagonian sealion and west indian manatee,
side stiped dolphins for the indian ocean, calafornian sealions for the pacific with common dolphin, and amazon manatee with amazo river dolphin in the amazon biome

30-10-2008

Any species such as some of these which would have to be wild caught would be a more or less definate NO for any possible UK dolphinaria, because the antis could make a far bigger deal out of this than they could with (say) captive bred Bottlenoses (of which there are dozens and dozens floating about).

I have heard of plans for dolphinaria in the UK in the near(ish) future and I would guess that within 10 years we will probably have one if not more cetacean facilities in this country...... There will alway be problems with antis but many of the arguements applied to dolphinaria are no longer compatible with the modern way of keeping dolphins etc, and certain species like the BND can do extremely well in captivity with today's scientific advancements in management and veterinary care for these animals.

30-10-2008

river dophins NO, if you actually took the time to look at biotas website you will see what is included in the plans, i believe that manatees are included in the plans for the south american area.

30-10-2008

I think one collection in the UK has applied to DEFRA to exhibit dolphins, I don't know who it is.

30-10-2008

hmmm, maybe one that already has experience in the field? i could see west midlands safari park having dolphins, whipsnade maybe?

30-10-2008

Listen!!!!!!!!
i have took time to look at it!
i was surgesting ideas of what could be included in the plans!

30-10-2008

there is only one river dophin in captivity as said, i can hardly believe that biota would even think of getting river dophins

31-10-2008

There are a few more than one river dolphin in captivity! mostly in South America though. I believe they have even bred them! There are so many dolphins that are washed up on our shores every year! the most care they get is to be pushed back out to sea. I personally think this is cruel as if they cant swim due to illness then that is why they have come into shallow water so avoid drowning. Some rescued Dolphins would be ideal even if they were just on temporary display until they were fit to go back to the wild. How far along is Biota now anyways?

31-10-2008

Biota is a dormant project right now, a victim of the credit crunch, but if and when it is developed it is unlikely to hold cetaceans. The proposed NIRAH aquarium is a more likely candidate, but that project is not much more than a pipedream at the moment.

There was speculation on the internet when Parques Reunidos took over Blackpool Zoo that they may wish to develop a dolphinarium there, as many of their European and American parks already have dolphins. But that speculation has so far proved wrong.

As others have already said, we are unlikely to see any captive cetaceans in the UK for the foreseeable future, with good reason.

31-10-2008

i didnt know that.... i have heard of nirah but i expect that will be far far away in the future

31-10-2008

I believe it was Blackpool that was mooted for dolphins, as their Spanish owners seem to be building dolphin facilities at all their facilities.

But i personally cannot see dolphins being held in the UK ever again, the feeling in this country is too well rooted against dolphins being kept rightly or wrongly for our entertainment.
The British general public are and have been brainwashed into believing that these shows are cruel and unnecessary, but tell me if ant tourist goes to Florida on holiday and does not include sea world on their visit.

No investor will pour millions of pounds into the facilities needed for dolphins with this background of public feeling, as well as the problems in the financial world at the moment.

31-10-2008

I know a senior staff member at Whipsnade. They are not having dolphins, ever.