Oct. 2010 - The campaign was successful, we stopped the show, the calf was born, and strictly the noise and show would be limited during the first year of the calf.  Strictly, no transportation of the calf during the first year.  Thank you to Activist in Egypt, thank you to WSPA, WHALES AND DOLPHINS SOCIETY, HUMANE SOCIETY, Born Free  for providing documents which supported our case.  Thank you to BEST FRIENDS for supporting us in the campaign, thank you to Egyptian Ahram newspaper for supporting the campaign and following up

.   DOLPHINARIUM OF MAGIC LAND - EMPC (Cairo) Oct. 2010

Two Reports based on:

Visit 10 Oct. 2010

Visit 7 Nov. 2010 

Visit 10 Oct. 2010

11:30

Report of the visit by Dina Zulfikar:

Today I went to the EMPC MAGIC LAND, to find out what is happening over there.

Early in the morning I called 16780 the hotline of the MAGIC LAND to find the schedules for the dolphin shows, I was told they have 2 shows per day, one at 12:30 the other at 4:00pm.

I inquired about the ticket price, (40LE), and inquired how many dolphins are performing, I was told by the operator, one dolphin is performing, I said, you only have one dolphin?  He answered no, we have 2 but the other one is sick.

Before I headed to the EMPC, I decided to call and inquire again, how sick is the other dolphin, this time another person answered me, he said, the female dolphin was pregnant this is why she is not performing, I said pregnant, in which month, he said the 10^th I think.

Anyway I was there 11:30, nobody is allowed to enter the area before 12:30.  I asked to speak to the manager of the place and I did.  I told him I learnt that one of the two dolphins is sick, he said yes, the Russsians some time says she is pregnant, sometimes not,.

I learnt the following:

.  The EMPC with new BOD, does not own the dolphins and in fact never did.

.  The dolphins show is a contract made with Russians, since 2003, a sort of cultural exchange.  The Russian Team, trainer + vet + assistant + dolphins .

.  There were several dolphins about 6, now remaining 2.  Different stories were told, by this manager and by the manager I met later on representing the shareholding company.  One version:  the conditions for keeping the dolphins are not good so they die, the other version, the 4 others were sent to Sharm El Sheikh.

.  I was also told that the male dolphin is "mad" as described by the manager, he said 'this dolphin sometimes hits his nose and head in the bottom of the pool that the trainer had to insert special material in it's mouth.  (I think the dolphin which acts this way is under great stress and not mad as described).

.  When I inquired if the facility is suitable or equipped for a dolphin to give birth, I was told, off course no, this never happened, no delivery happened before.

.  The Magic Land Dolphinarium gets inspection regularly from GOVS vets, also , wildlife unit or CITES Egypt representative often comes to test the water.

.  I learnt that the new shareholder is not satisfied at all with the Russians, that already, a notice has been issued to end the lease end of this month.

.  I inquired where would the 2 dolphins go?  I was told, we heard that they are negotiating with somebody in Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada.

.  I inquired so you will shut the dolphinarium?  The shareholder representative told me, no, the dolphinarium is vital in our business, it has to be running, we are in process of ordering dolphins from the Far East (Taiwan or Indonisia).?

.  I said did you acquire permission?  I was told the deal is to be done by an American guy who is highly experienced in getting permissions.

.  Inquiries and gathering informaiton:

.  Inquiries:

.  Inquiries has been sent to GOVS and CITES Egypt on the 11th and 12th of October to verify information and take necessary actions for the welfare of the dolphins. 

Inquiry to CITES Egypt made by Marie Castelli

Inguiry to GOVS made by Dina Zulfikar

.  Gathering information:

.  video link on youtube about the DJ dolphinarium show:

.  We felt the need to create a forum on facebook to discuss laws, legislations, conventions in Egypt, report to the authorities involved, expose abuse, so we created facebook group:  ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH IN EGYPT

 http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=153683224666131&v=app_2373072738&ref=ts#!/group.php?gid=153683224666131

http://www.ceta-base.com/phinventory/phins_magicland.html       INTERNATIONAL PHINVENTORY INVENTORY ADDED MAGICLAND SITE TO THEIR EGYPT INVENTORY FROM OUR INPUT.  WE NEED TO KNOW NAMES, AGES, ETC. VERIFICATIONS. 

.   RESEARCH OF HEALTHY DOLPHIN BIRTHS TO PREPARE US FOR DELIVERY EMERGENCIES - Marie Antoinette Castelli

http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2010/07/special-dolphin-delivery.html

.   Journal of the Egyptian Veterinary Medical Associati...on (Egypt) 59(2-3): 315-335.

link provided by: Louise Hardy

.  Information about how female dolphin behave during labor -

search by:  Dina Zulfikar

After a gestation of 12 months, a single dolphin calf is born tail first. Labor can last up to 2.5 hours, and the female in labor may be accompanied by an assisting animal during and after delivery. Other members of the group have been observed approaching mother and calf shortly after birth. The calf nurses for about 18 months, but may stay close to its mother for up to 6 years.

The female dolphin generally swims near the surface of the water, in order to allow the newborn to more easily get its first breath of air. Before birth, she swims over and over on the same path through the water.

Source:

 http://www.dolphinreef.co.il/Default.aspx?tabid=32

.  Activating campaigns to stop dolphinariums - supporting HEPCA's campaign to shut down dolphinariums and activating pressure to stop the import of dolphins, boycott dolphinariums -

by:  Ingi Hellings

 ‎1. http://www.Sharmelsheikhexcursions.com/
2. http://sharmweb.net/dolphina/news-item/only-dolphinarium-sharm-el-sheikh
3. http://w http://www.travel-library.com/tours/africa/egypt/sharm_el_sheikh/swim_with_dolphins.html

4.  http://www.travel-library.com/tours/africa/egypt/sharm_el_sheikh/swim_with_dolphins.html

.  Reports posted by eye witnesses about a dolphinarium in Cairo since 2002, (we don't know which)

Dolphin's Lover wrote:  

Before to say what iam looking for inside the dolphin's life . Let's say who we are between the dolphins? i start to work with dolphins since 2002 in park for dolphin show located in Egypt Cairo. Just i was working as Dolphin trainer. i spent 4 years with theme to be a bit experienced in theme life and actually i have to mention something here that we lost 5 dolphins in this place in the reasons of bad care and healthy advices And as all the people know that the dolphins go out of existence. Even when they live at the ocean and sea !!!!!!!!!!!! Since 2001 until 2006 the park lost 5 dolphins. And sure was build its property only on the shows and entertainment . Do you think this is fair worth? And from here i can move to what i am looking for! i need more value from the dolphins. Also if they can talk, will say COME on world we can help you Mr Human . we can help the kids who they have special needs. COME on world you can use us in something more better and expansive then shows only to have fun for the normal and healthy kids . and in other side theirs much and much kids need for our ultrasonic waves just to let theme enjoy only the normal life . Actually we dont mind to have dolphin show also for fun and entertainment but under special and respectable conditions to save the dolphins inside them performance just like the people who are working in any good organization, it care to insure its employees. You SEE that! So we ask any park for dolphin show to insure theme employees (DOLPHINS) and let theme feel by them selves, by them real value in life not only to make the human begin happy and smile but also to help some of us in having a normal healthy LIFE. Under the right atmosphere (Marin from sea , Psychical Doctors , Family Dolphins , Free Time @ the sea ) iam not expert in the dolphin's life but i have mind to read about theme and think which way is perfect for theme! iam looking to meet with the people who see my mind is suitable for dolphins and they want to live with dolphins during the value of theme to find a marine in the RED SEA (Hurghada OR Marsa Alam ) which is cities in the country we live in ( EGYPT ) Finally i like to thank Mr Vlantino, who was the reason to let i think about this issue. It's his dream since he came to Egypt to work as beluga trainer... iam waiting to make Therapy Dolphin marine @ the red sea with the people who are cares about! (read less)

NOTICE:   SEEKING INFO ON THE EXISTING DOLPHINS IN MAGICLAND - THE NAMES AND AGES AND ORIGINS (WILD/CAPTURED) AND MICROCHIPS OF THEM (THE MOTHER AND BABY AND THE "MAD" STRESSED MALE).  NEED IT FOR THE INVENTORY I AM MAKING AND SHARING INTERNATIONAL PHINVENTORY INVENTORY.  IF KNOWN SEND ME EMAIL marie_333@yahoo.com THANKS.  PHINVENTORY WAS UPDATED SEE ABOVE LINK OF MAGICLAND DATA ADDED. STILL NEED NAMES AND AGES VERIFIED.  ALSO NEED TO ADD THE DEATH OF ANKA.

Visit 7 Nov. 2010  

The calf born 17 October is held with the Mother in the main pool with the male dolphin.  Two shows are conducted daily accompanied by DJ.

The Magic Land new owners said they ended the contract with the Russian Crew, All - including the 3 dolphins- will leave Cairo end of this month.

Reports have been sent to :  CITES Egypt - Chairperson EMPC Egyptian Media Production City - Prime Minister of Egypt - Minister of Information in Egypt

The Risk the Calf is facing now during the show, and if transferred end of the month as the contract ends.  Based on:  Marine Mammal Egyptian Biologist and Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity:

Report by Egyptian Marine Mammal Biologist:

From the biological point of view not the veterinarian one, In general cases, even in wild…the calves are very sensitive and need an intensive care by both the mother and group’s male…In the case of bottlenose dolphin as example not only the calf whom needs the care but also the mother whom prefers to stay away of the coastal areas and the zones with disturbance to avoid any kind of disturbance and sometimes the mother has a very aggressive behavior and reasons are very clear because calves are obtaining completely on the mother on suckling about 20 months and later on learning the feeding tactics… the calves go through different stages to separate which are calves, newborn, immature and mature…they can separate from the mother when they come immature which takes about 4-6 years
concisely, I would like to explain that, intensive care is extremely needed not only for the calf but also for the mother…also I don’t think that transferring the calf in this time is a wise idea specially this separates the mother and the calf
Information also I would like to mention, that why Dolphinariums prefer the bottlenose for that shows? In addition to easiness of training them, bottlenose dolphin is the most tolerant species among the cetacean, it can appear changing in various conditions and can be easily adapt in comparison of the other species

Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity:

HUMANE SOCIETY OF UNITED STATES & WSPA INTERNATIONAL:

Please find attached a document that I hope will prove the current risk of placing the mother, calf with the male in the same pool, plus , the risk of transportation to any desting.  It is a position paper opposing the capture and display of marine mammals and contains over 300 endnotes with references for the claims made. 

Generally speaking, mothers and newborn calves are separated from the show pool for some period (usually a few months), to allow the calf and mother to bond and to keep males from having access to the calf.  Bottlenose dolphin males have injured and even killed calves, (evidence:  see the wound currently in the female dolphin) both in the wild and in captivity. (Please see page 30 and endnote #228 in the attached document for further details and references on the issue of infanticide.) This is a mating strategy, as the mother will come into estrus if she is not lactating.  In the wild, females and their calves segregate from males into “nursery” groups as a safety precaution (the mothers defend their offspring as a group from potentially aggressive males) – in captivity, properly equipped facilities separate males and mothers/calves.  The calf at Magic Land is at risk by being maintained with its mother in the same pool as the male.

Regarding the noise, it is not in the calf’s best interest to be exposed to a lot of noise, but unfortunately the noise aspect of captive facilities is the least studied and understood of all the issues surrounding public display.  It is likely that very loud music and constant noise exposure (clapping, shouting, laughing, etc. from the audience) during the performances is not good for the calf’s hearing development or the bonding process between the calf and the mother, but there is not much if any literature on this.

Regarding transferring the calf, there is always risk involved when transporting captive dolphins. Again, please refer to the attached document – see pages 23-24 and endnote #187.  The younger the animal the more risk involved – captive marine mammal husbandry protocols generally consider it inappropriate to transport a nursing dolphin calf (in fact, it is illegal in the United States to import a nursing marine mammal, primarily because of the health concerns with transporting such a young animal).