Petition launched as 199 NGOs join Animals Asia to oppose Vietnam dolphin plan

18 November 2015

Animals Asia has been joined by 199 animal charities as a petition is launched against plans to build a dolphinarium in Danang, Vietnam.

Animal lovers across the world have been asked to add their name to the petition to show Danang city leaders that – despite what they may be told by investors – the world does not want more animal cruelty packaged as entertainment.

This coalition of campaigners believe that not only are dolphinariums cruel, they represent a misstep by Danang city leaders who, to date, have received praise for developing with environmental concerns in mind.

In the statement opposing the marine park, Animals Asia’s Animal Welfare Director Dave Neale said:

“There’s an ever-increasing body of research that shows capturing dolphins from the wild is cruel and causes a significant amount of suffering. Keeping dolphins and other cetaceans in captivity is harmful to them and increasingly it’s something that people don’t want to be a part of. 

“It would be foolish to overlook the potential long-term economic effects of accepting the plans for a dolphin park. It could easily jeopardise future investment in Danang by investors who might see this as tarnishing Danang’s reputation as a progressive city. In addition – in one stroke – any hopes for developing eco-tourism would be gone.”

With the movie Blackfish having raised awareness in the west of the cruelty involved, exploiters of marine animals are already targeting new markets. Animals Asia believes Vietnam would be well-served not to invest in an industry that is both declining and discredited.

Since plans by a Russian company to build a dolphinarium in the central Vietnamese city of Danang were announced, Animals Asia – working with the Asia for Animals Coalition – has been putting pressure on city officials. You can read the letter sent to city leaders here.

The campaign is already prompting debate with Vietnamese newspapers having picked up on the campaign.

Dolphin performance at Dalian ocean park, China 2014

The 16 members of Asia for Animals Coalition are as follows:

  1. Animal Guardians
  2. Animal People
  3. Animals Asia Foundation
  4. ACRES
  5. Blue Cross of India
  6. Change for Animals Foundation
  7. Earth Island Institute
  8. Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations
  9. Humane Society International
  10. International Animal Rescue
  11. International Fund for Animal Welfare
  12. Philippine Animal Welfare Society
  13. Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (UK)
  14. Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  15. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Hong Kong
  16. World Animal Protection

Also supporting the campaign are the following:

  1. AAP Rescue Centre for Exotic Animals, NETHERLANDS
  2. Action for Animals, KOREA
  3. All Life In A Viable Environment, JAPAN
  4. Andhra Pradesh Goshala Federation, INDIA
  5. Anima, MACAU
  6. Animal Conservation & Welfare Foundation, POLAND
  7. Animal Friends, CROATIA
  8. Animal Friends Niigata, JAPAN
  9. Animal Nepal
  10. Animal Projects & Environmental Education, MALAYSIA
  11. Animal Protection Network, SWEDEN
  12. Animal Rights Action Network, IRELAND
  13. Animal Rights Alliance, SWEDEN
  14. Animal Rights Centre, JAPAN
  15. Animal Rights Hawaii, USA
  16. Animal Sanctuary Trust, INDONESIA
  17. Animal Welfare Institute, USA
  18. Animal Welfare Network Nepal
  19. Animals Australia
  20. ARK Animal Refuge Kansai, JAPAN
  21. Australia for Dolphins
  22. Australians for Animals
  23. Bali Animal Welfare Association, INDONESIA
  24. Bali Sea Turtle Society (BSTS), INDONESIA
  25. Behavioral & Environmental Solutions, USA
  26. Beijing Pet Adoption Day, CHINA
  27. Beijing Sunflower Friends of Animal Team, CHINA
  28. Beauty without Cruelty, INDIA
  29. Bharatiya Prani Mitra Sangh, Hyderabad, INDIA
  30. Big Heart Foundation, RUSSIA
  31. Blue Cross Youth Seva Sangham - Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
  32. Born Free Foundation, UK
  33. British Hen Welfare Trust, UK
  34. Captive Animal Protection Society, UK
  35. Cat Welfare Society, SINGAPORE
  36. CATCHA Environmental & Wildlife Society, CANADA
  37. Causes for Animals Ltd, SINGAPORE
  38. Cee4life, AUSTRALIA
  39. Centre for Orangutan Protection, INDONESIA
  40. Cetacean Society International
  41. Changchun 3.10 Shanxiao Fund, CHINA
  42. Changsha Small Animal Protection Association, CHINA      
  43. Chengde Cat Forest, CHINA
  44. Chengdu Home of Love Small Animal Rescue, CHINA
  45. China Farm Animal Protection Coalition, CHINA
  46. China Journalists Salon for Animal Protection, CHINA
  47. China Youth Animal Protection Alliance, CHINA
  48. China Zoo Watch, CHINA
  49. Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, Bangalore, INDIA
  50. CPR Environmental Education Centre, INDIA
  51. Dalian VSHINE Protection of Animals SPCA, CHINA
  52. Darjeeling Animal Shelter, INDIA
  53. David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, UK
  54. Djurskyddet Sverige (Animal Welfare Sweden), SWEDEN
  55. Dobro Surtse, BULGARIA
  56. DOGSTOP, HONG KONG
  57. Dolphin Project, USA
  58. Dzivnieku Draugs, LATVIA
  59. Egyptian Society of Animal Friends, EGYPT
  60. Elephant Aid International, USA
  61. Elephant Asia Rescue & Survival Foundation, HONG KONG
  62. ElephantVoices, KENYA
  63. Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali – Onlus, ITALY
  64. Environment Films, UK
  65. European Animal Protection Foundation / Europaeische Tierschutzstiftung, SWITZERLAND
  66. FAADA, SPAIN
  67. Fanciers Nanning Stray Cats, CHINA
  68. Finnish Federation for Animal Welfare Organisations (SEY), FINLAND
  69. For Elephants International
  70. Four Paws, UK
  71. Four Paws International
  72. Friends of the Earth, MALAYSIA
  73. Fuzhou Aixinyuan Stray Animal Rescue, CHINA
  74. Fuzhou Small Animal Protection Center, CHINA
  75. GAIA, Voice for the Voiceless, BELGIUM
  76. Gansu Green Volunteer Home, CHINA
  77. GREY2K USA Worldwide, USA
  78. Greyhound Compassion UK
  79. Grupo de los Cien, MEXICO
  80. Guangdong the Best Volunteer Center, CHINA
  81. Guangyuan Bo’ai Animal Protection Center, CHINA
  82. Guangzhou Cat -Xi Xi Forest, CHINA
  83. Hefei Kennel Association Care Center, CHINA
  84. Help Animals India, INDIA
  85. Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust, INDIA
  86. HK Dolphin Conservation Society, HONG KONG
  87. Huhhot Angel Guardian, CHINA
  88. Iceland Animal Welfare Foundation, ICELAND
  89. In Defense of Animals, INDIA
  90. In Defense of Animals, USA
  91. International Otter Survival Fund, UK
  92. International Primate Protection League
  93. Jakarta Animal Aid Network, INDONESIA
  94. JBF India Trust, INDIA
  95. Jinan Cattery, CHINA
  96. Karuna Society for Animals & Nature, INDIA
  97. Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre, NEPAL
  98. Korea Animal Rights Advocate, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
  99. Korean Animal Welfare Association, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
  100. Lanta Animal Welfare, HONG KONG
  101. Lanzhou Street Animal Rescue Station, CHINA
  102. Life Conservationist Association, TAIWAN
  103. Lifelong Animal Protection, HONG KONG
  104. Light of Life Veterinary Clinic, SINGAPORE
  105. Love Wildlife Foundation, THAILAND
  106. Lucky Cats, CHINA
  107. Marine Connection, UK
  108. MelbournDolphin, AUSTRALIA
  109. moonbears.org
  110. Nanchang Small Animal Protection Association, CHINA
  111. Nanjing Ping An A Fu Stray Animal Rescue Association, CHINA
  112. National Council of SPCAs. SOUTH AFRICA
  113. Navale Consulting Group, INDIA
  114. NY Class, USA
  115. Ocean Care
  116. Otara Foundation, SRI LANKA
  117. Orangutan Aid, HONG KONG
  118. Palawan Animal Welfare Association, PHILIPINNES
  119. People For Animals – Chennai, INDIA
  120. People For Animals – Hooghly, INDIA
  121. Performing Animal Welfare Society, USA
  122. Pet Orphans Home, CHINA
  123. PETA, UK
  124. PETA Asia, HONG KONG
  125. PhaNgan Animal Care for Strays, THAILAND
  126. Plant & Animal Welfare Society, INDIA
  127. ProWildlife, GERMANY
  128. Qingdao Society for the Protection of Animals, CHINA
  129. RAKSHA - Voice of the Voiceless, INDIA
  130. Rattle the Cage Productions, THAILAND
  131. reEarth, BAHAMAS
  132. Royal Veterinary College, University of London, HONG KONG
  133. RSPCA Victoria, AUSTRALIA
  134. Sahayog Organisation, Andhra Pradesh Goshala Federation, Hyderabad, INDIA
  135. Save Animals Initiative Sanctuary Trust, INDIA
  136. Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, VIETNAM
  137. Shandong Yantai Caring Street Animals Rescue Shelter, CHINA
  138. Sichuan Qiming Companion Animal Protection Cente, CHINA
  139. SJZ One Meter More Love stray cats rescue group, CHINA
  140. Society for Animal Welfare and Management, NEPAL
  141. Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Penang, MALAYSIA
  142. Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Selangor, MALAYSIA
  143. Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – SINGAPORE
  144. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Xiangzhou, Zhuhai), CHINA
  145. Soi Dog Foundation, THAILAND
  146. Stiftung fuer Baeren / Foundation for Bears, SWITZERLAND
  147. Stray Relief and Animal Welfare, INDIA
  148. Sun Bear Centre – Kalimantan, INDONESIA
  149. Swiss Animal Protection SAP / Schweizer Tierschutz STS / Protection Suisse des Animaux PSA, SWITZERLAND 
  150. Taiwan SPCA, TAIWAN
  151. Thai Fund for Elephant Foundation, THAILAND
  152. Thane SPCA, INDIA
  153. The Cattitude Trust – Chennai, INDIA
  154. The Corbett Foundation, INDIA
  155. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, KENYA
  156. The Home of Love, CHINA
  157. The Humane Education Trust, SOUTH AFRICA
  158. The Welfare of Stray Dogs – Mumbai, INDIA
  159. The Winsome Constance Kindness Trust, AUSTRALIA
  160. Tianjin Common Home, CHINA
  161. Together for Animals in China, CHINA
  162. United Against Elephant Polo, INDIA
  163. Vegan Virtues, AUSTRALIA
  164. Vietnam Animal Welfare Organisation, VIETNAM
  165. Voice for Zoo Animals, JAPAN
  166. “We Are One Family” Charity Association of Chongqing Normal University, CHINA
  167. Whale and Dolphin Conservation, UK
  168. Wild Futures, UK
  169. Wildlife Alliance, CAMBODIA
  170. Wildlife in Need (and Active Environments), PHILIPPINES
  171. Wildlife Protection Society of  India, INDIA
  172. Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre, Bangalore, INDIA
  173. Wildlife Salvation, SINGAPORE
  174. Wolf Watch UK
  175. Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association, CHINA
  176. Xi’an Grenadine Companion Animal Rescue, CHINA
  177. Xiamen Animal Protection Education Association, CHINA
  178. Xiamen Pet Web, CHINA
  179. Xinjiang Karamay City Street Animal Protection Centre, CHINA
  180. YeuDongVat, VIETNAM
  181. Zhangzhou Small Animal Scientifically Rescue Center, CHINA
  182. Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, ZIMBABWE
  183. Zoocheck Canada, CANADA
  184. Da Nang Animals Rescue Centre, VIETNAM

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