Page 21 - Animals Asia Review 2015

Captive Animal Welfare

Dolphin disaster averted

Plans for a new dolphin marine park in Vietnam were put on
hold, after more than 7,000 people signed our letter to Danang

city leaders.

Animals Asia hit the headlines when we publicly challenged

plans to build the dolphinarium, sending a clear message to city
leaders that if plans were approved the move would be a life
sentence for hundreds of dolphins.

We stressed that the project would relect badly on Danang
city, which prides itself on being modern, progressive and

environmentally responsible. A dolphinarium displaying wild-
caught dolphins would irreversibly damage the city’s reputation.

Although no oficial announcement has been made regarding
Thanks to kind supporters, and oficials who listened, plans
the project, we have been told off the record that due to our for a dolphinarium in Danang have been put on hold.
campaign, it's highly likely the project will be shelved. We’ll
continue to monitor the situation and our campaign continues

into 2016.

Dolphins are highly intelligent
animals, demonstrating
culture, tool-use, individuality
and self-awareness. Many

scientists are now calling for
them to be treated as “non-
human persons”.

‘We have to keep ighting this cruel
’
industry wherever it rears its ugly head.

As more people in the West stand up against dolphins in
Dr Tuan Bendixsen
Vietnam Director
captivity, proiteers are seeking new markets in Asia.

Help from all sides

Our work to improve the welfare of captive wild animals Our cooperation with the China Association of Zoological
continued to gather momentum in 2015, with a growing Gardens (the government authority responsible for regulating

network of university students volunteering to help monitor zoos) continued to grow too, allowing us to work more
conditions in zoos and safari parks.
effectively to help even more animals.

Supporting vets in China and Vietnam

Our world-class veterinary teams in China and Vietnam
provide learning materials and run workshops for vets and
veterinary students on the specialist welfare needs of wild

animals in captivity.

In 2015, in conjunction with the Jeanne Marchig International

Centre for Animal Welfare Education, we delivered a series of
lectures on animal welfare concepts to veterinary students and
lecturers at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture.

In China, we were invited to speak at the country’s most
important gathering of veterinary professionals, the Conference

of Chinese Veterinary Medicine. And after the conference, the
association posted some of our materials on veterinary best Our veterinary surgeons and nurses are sharing their world-
practice online in its continuing education platform, which is
accessed by vets across China.
class expertise with China's emerging veterinary profession.

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