Agence France Presse
December 24, 2010 Friday 12:38 PM GMT

Dolphinarium opening sparks protest in Armenia

YEREVAN, Dec 24 2010

Environmentalists on Friday staged a protest against alleged cruelty
to animals as Armenia’s first dolphinarium opened in the capital.

Protesters representing an alliance of 50 Armenian environmental
groups and animal-welfare organisations gathered outside the new
dolphinarium in Yerevan’s Komitas Park holding placards that read:
“Don’t use dolphins for entertainment!”

The campaigners believe that keeping dolphins in confined spaces is
cruel and could cause them to become psychologically disturbed.

They also argue that the climate in Yerevan — where winter
temperatures can plunge to minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees
Fahrenheit) — is not suitable.

“Summer is too dry and winter is too severe, which is harmful for
dolphins and other sea mammals,” said Ruben Khachatrian, director of
the Fund for Wildlife Protection.

But the Ukrainian company that built the new tourist attraction —
home to four dolphins and two fur seals — has said that suitable
conditions will be guaranteed and a glass dome will ensure protection
from bad weather.

“I don’t understand this protest — we are giving children an
opportunity to interact with these beautiful animals,” said dolphin
trainer Dmitry Uryvsky.

From: A. Papazian