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Loading...Dolphin Dies After Deafening Rave at Park
Research published in August suggested dolphins may understand death, but that level of sensitivity appears to be lacking in the caretakers of a Swiss park.
A tropical paradise in the middle of Europe proved a nightmare for eight-year-old Shadow. In a move that would mystify anyone who cares about animals, Connyland amusement park in Lipperswil, Switzerland, hosted a techno rave that reverberated through the dolphin enclosure for two straight days.
Performing dolphins are one of the star attractions of the park. Animal activists had warned Connyland that the dolphins could be stressed by the noise. Connyland disagreed, and the Thurgau Veterinary Office accepted the park’s reassurances the party would not affect them.
Activists from two German animal-rights groups, ProWal and The Whale and Dolphin Protection Society, were on hand. They measured noise levels over 100 decibels outside the park. The dolphins were much nearer the party, and Andreas Morlok from ProWal said:
The sound levels which would have been heard by the dolphins is comparable with that of a pneumatic drill on top volume. Before the event we warned of these noise levels and the damage which could be done and called for the event to be called off.
Jürgen Ortmüller from the Whale and Dolphin Protection Society had this to say:
We have reasonable evidence to suggest that the extreme noise levels from the two day techno party severely affected the immune system of the dolphins. Dolphins are very sensitive creatures. We warned against a techno party taking place in this location for these very reasons.
A few days after the party, Shadow became agitated, stopped breathing and died. He was the seventh dolphin to die in three years at Connyland. The park is denying guilt, supported by their vet, who is quoted as saying:
I was there and the noise would not have affected the animals. You could hardly hear anything. Connyland takes the care of its animals very seriously and they are looked after very well.
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Read more: animal welfare, captive dolphins, dolphins, marine animal
Photo from sandor via morgueFile
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Recent Comments from Causes
He's not embarrassed, he's just tired.
very nice .... I am planning the local arboretum tomorrow :)
Just horrible!!
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215 comments
+ add your ownThank you for sharing.
The leadership of this place is ridiculously incompetent. Stupid Stupid Stupid!!!
They need to be replaced immediately!!!
RIP Shadow. This shows the callousness of the people running the park and the vet who said it was ok. Obviously, if something isn't done it will happen again. The dolphins in the park should be taken away and the park should never be allowed to have any again. If the park has any other animals, they should be taken away as well. In effect, close the park.
No More Dolphins In Captivity!!!
they need to be shut down. we know dolphins have very sensitive hearng. Imagine having that noise blasing through your head for two days. Their vet should lose his/her license and they should be fined to say the least.
signed the petition.
this is just a stupid tactic at the amusement park to get more people in. why has an amusement park got dolphins in the first place? and why does an amusement park need to have a rave for? surely an amusement park should be an attraction in itself!
as for Shadow dying, i can't say it IS definitely as a result of a "severely affected the immune system", but i do know, as SANDRA L pointed out, that sonar testing has shown that noise levels-particularly the vibrations it causes in the water, can have detrimental-and often FATAL effects on dolphins
This is just plain stupid and greed by the organizers of the event, they didn't care what it did to the dolphins, just so long as they got lots of paying punters in.
Though I don't agree with keeping dolphins in an aquarium, if it's big enough and peaceful and they receive a lot of food and are played with and have toys and companions, I'm okay with it.
However, this park seems to just plain and simple abuse their dolphins! 7 deaths in 3 years, this should fall under the animal cruelty act!!
Poor Shadow. This is so wrong- free the dolphins!
People who have followed the US Navy sonar testing and its harmful effects on whales and dolphins know very well how harmful underwater noise is to these animals. How shameful and how stupid! This Swiss park doesn't have a very good record. I suggest they be shut down. Better yet, all "parks" that exploit these wonderful creatures should go the way of the Dodo...Sea World included.
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