Reaction to the Animal Protectionist Report

This message reached us after our report on the whale and dolphin protectors. Many thanks to Carmen Viereckl

My experience of the welfare of the animals at ONMEGA are very positive. I have also worked in a dolphinarium in the Ukraine where they kept 2 Beluga whales and 2 dolphins in a 6m. deep concrete pool, separated into a show area and a rest area. Most of the time the animals are kept in the rest area, sub-divided into very small enclosures, comparable with horse boxes. In the meantime there are now 4 or 5 dolphins which have to share the same pen with the Beluga whales, and is no larger. The enclosure at ONMEGA in comparison is a perfect dream! The dolphins can live in their natural environment and are separated from the open sea ’’only’’ by nets. The single pools are generous in their area and volume. Naturally it is not open to discussion that the animals are better off in the wild, but compared to other dolphinariums in Europe the one in Antalya is certainly the most animal-friendly. Before considering the closure or similar of this Institute one should first have a look at all the other dolphinarium Establishments (especially those that exist simply to produce shows to amuse the public) and see how they are managed!

Carmen Viereckl, MSc