Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
As parks scale back, dolphin exhibit opens in Arizona
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — An exhibit opening Saturday in Arizona lets people swim and play with dolphins in pools on the edge of a dirt and cactus landscape near a freeway, angering animal rights activists who believe marine mammal parks should be a thing of the past.
Dolphinaris Arizona is believed to be the first newly constructed dolphin facility in the U.S. in a decade, and it comes at a time when marine parks have been making significant changes to scale back exhibits.
Situated in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale, Dolphinaris houses five bottlenose dolphins that were all born in captivity. They will be part of dolphin experiences that let people kiss the dolphins or do handshakes with their fins. The attraction also offers a deluxe swim experience in which people can help trainers for more than three-hour sessions. The costs range from $59 to $399.
The Dolphinaris staff includes nine trainers, a full-time marine mammal veterinarian and water quality experts. There are no plans to breed dolphins at the facility.
Trainers last week did a dry run with a few dozen people of all ages. Some got in the shallow areas. Others just stood at the edge of the dolphin pool as the animals flipped or retrieved a ball.
Visitors at a neighboring aquarium, which is a separate company, have been stopping by to get a peek of the dolphins. Some settled for taking a selfie in the ticketing area with the 10-feet deep pool in the background.
“We’re all on the same side,” trainer Justine Dingee said. “We want the same thing — the animals to be safe, healthy and happy.”
Judging by protests on and off social media, there are others who disagree. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Dolphin Free Arizona, a grassroots organization, will hold joint demonstrations outside on opening day. Dolphin Free Arizona spokeswoman Danielle Riley said they expect 100 people. Both groups argue placing dolphins not just in the desert, but in confined pools, is tantamount to animal cruelty.
They protested in July, holding signs with messages such as “Thanks but no tanks” and “Keep AZ Dolphin Free.” They also brought in a vehicle topped with a prop killer whale tethered inside a cage.
Lori Marino, who has studied the behavioral biology of marine mammals for 25 years, said the desert environment was a “poetic irony.”
“To me, it’s no worse or no better than any other place,” said Marino, who was featured in the 2013 documentary “Blackfish,” which was highly critical of SeaWorld parks. “That being said, there are some things about Arizona weather that are particularly bad. It’s very hot. It’s very dry. The animals are not going to have any breeze.”