Trapped in a Concrete Tank... Can the 'Dolphin Cruelty' Stop?

Dolphin 'Nagwon' Died Last March... 3 Dolphins Dead in Last 8 Months
7 Domestic Aquariums and Experience Facilities Report Consecutive Dolphin Deaths
Environmental Groups Demand "Release Remaining 26 Dolphins into the Wild"

A dolphin is swimming at the Ulsan Whale Ecology Experience Center. As dolphin deaths continue in aquariums, calls for releasing them back into the wild are growing.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jumi Lee] "Our happiness is important, but the happiness of dolphins is also important." "Please release the dolphins back into nature so that no more dolphins die while trapped."

These are letters sent by elementary school students in Ulsan to candidates for the mayor of Nam-gu, Ulsan, during the April 7 by-election, asking them to free the dolphins. As the deaths of dolphins confined in aquariums continue, voices calling for the release of dolphins back into the sea are growing louder.

On the 19th of last month, it was revealed that a bottlenose dolphin named 'Nagwon' being kept at the Marine Park dolphin experience facility in Jeju had died in March. According to the marine environmental group Hotpink Dolphins, the cause of Nagwon's death was 'old age-related illness (abscess, pneumonia).' Nagwon was a bottlenose dolphin imported from Taiji, Japan, in 2015.

Now, only one dolphin named 'Hwasooni' remains at Marine Park. Since its opening in 2009, eight dolphins have been brought in, but seven have died in the narrow tanks over the past ten years. In fact, with Nagwon's death, three dolphins have died within the last eight months. 'Andeogi' died on August 28 last year, 'Dalkongi' died less than a month later on September 24, and then Nagwon died last month, all confined and passing away in a short period.

The last surviving bottlenose dolphin 'Hwasuni' at Jeju Marine Park. Photo by Hotpink Dolphins

The 'dolphin tragedy' is not limited to Marine Park. Dolphin deaths have been occurring continuously at a total of seven domestic aquariums and experience facilities that keep dolphins. At Geoje Sea World, an 11-year-old beluga dolphin died from sepsis and other causes on November 21 last year. According to Hotpink Dolphins, since Geoje Sea World opened in 2014, ten dolphins have died in less than seven years.

Due to the ongoing deaths, a total of 26 dolphins remain alive across the seven facilities. In other words, 26 dolphins are still confined in small, cramped tanks. Since dolphins swim over 100 km daily on average, the narrow concrete tanks are a major factor shortening their lifespan. Environmental groups argue that these remaining 26 dolphins must be released into nature before they meet a futile death.

In January, the government announced the '1st Comprehensive Aquarium Management Plan (2021?2025)' as a countermeasure. According to the plan, bringing in new whales other than those already protected in aquariums is prohibited. Also, aquariums previously operated under a registration system will be switched to a permit system, and only aquariums meeting certain standards in breeding facilities, indoor and outdoor environments, and health and disease management will be allowed to operate.

The problem is that there was no mention of a release plan for the dolphins still confined. Although dolphins remain at risk of death, there is no active effort to resolve this. Considering Nagwon's death in the meantime, it cannot be ruled out that all 26 remaining dolphins may end their lives in aquariums. Furthermore, the regulation banning breeding within aquariums is also missing. If breeding occurs in aquariums, some dolphins will be confined in tanks from birth.

In April 2019, 'Nakwon' and 'Dalkongi' floating on the surface while alive. Both passed away within the last eight months. Photo by Hot Pink Dolphins

The fact that whales held by private aquariums are treated as 'private property' poses a major challenge to releasing them. Since these aquariums' whales are legally recognized as private property, it is difficult for the government to forcibly order their release. Even if an agreement for release is reached, compensation must be considered. Since whale exhibitions are a major source of revenue for aquariums and experience facilities, the compensation amount could reach hundreds of billions of won.

Aquarium operators have already opposed regulations. After the controversy over animal abuse caused by the 'dolphin riding experience' at Geoje Sea World in June last year, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries held a meeting with aquarium operators and animal protection groups in August. Aquarium operators argued, "Article 15 of the Constitution states that all citizens have the freedom to choose their occupation," and claimed that "due to animal protection groups advocating for release, employees managing dolphins and operating aquariums are threatened in their right to livelihood and their freedom to choose their occupation is being infringed."

While no clear solution to the 'dolphin tragedy' is in sight, animal protection groups are urging the government to take active measures. On the 29th of last month, 12 environmental and animal protection organizations nationwide, including Animal Freedom Coalition and Hotpink Dolphins, appealed, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries must no longer neglect the industry that reduces animals to entertainment and causes their deaths," and called for "creating marine sanctuaries to return dolphins to nature."

They added, "Humans have the right to live in a humane environment, and animals have the right to live in an environment suited to their nature. This is a shared goal we must achieve together," emphasizing, "Preserving nature and passing it on to future generations is the mission of all of us living in the present era."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.