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Second dolphin born at Mediterraneo Park

The Mediterraneo park at Bahar Ic-Caghaq has announced the birth of the second dolphin to be delivered at its tanks in as many months.

It has also announced a competition where it is inviting children to give names to the two newborns.

The second calf , a male, was born on August 8 to Estrella, which, like Onda, which gave birth to a male on July 20, was brought to Malta from the waters around Cuba several years ago. The proud father in both cases is Lucas.

Paulo Pedroli park manager, said the park had put off the announcement of the birth because the first month was crucial and ‘mother and baby' needed to be closely monitored by experts. They were separated from other dolphins during that period and only put in the same tank as the other mother and calf a few days ago.

Marineland Ltd, the company that runs the Mediterraneo Marine Park, has been following a species propagation programme. Veterinary surgeons, trainers, biologists, voluntary workers and the staff at the park had been closely followed the gestation of Onda and Estrella, for whom these were the first births. No other births are planned for the near future.

Mr Pedroli said the park would be reducing the frequency of its shows and instead placing added focus on educational programmes, informing visitors about dolphins.

The park now has seven dolphins.

He said that children participating in the naming competition were being allowed free entrance to the park until the end of next month. Adults would pay the reduce fee of €10.50c.

The competition winners will become symbolic godfathers or godmothers of the dolphins.

Asked about public reaction to keeping dolphins in captivity - with somebody having complained that this was like a slave giving birth on a plantation - Mr Pedroli said this was a subject which needed to be discussed by experts.

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Andrew Debono

Sep 20th 2010, 08:19

Please sinse our friend Matthew ask everyone to see his links.

These are some more for everyone to watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giGMnvvjEiQ&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y27N7dO2QvU&feature=related

Kenneth Cassar

Sep 14th 2010, 14:36

The irony is that apparently you can't tell the difference between a dog and a dolphin.

L Howard

Sep 14th 2010, 22:34

So it's wrong to lock up Dolphins, but perfectly ok to lock a dog up in a small apartment?

Kenneth Cassar

Sep 13th 2010, 11:46

Tridx insakkruk go kamra? Barra tista ttajjrek xi karozza. Mhux l-aqwa li tkun safe?

ALICIA SAID

Sep 13th 2010, 13:12

YES YES YOU ARE RIGHT.. DEPRIVING THEM FROM THEIR OWN HABITAT.. ISN'T THAT THE SAFEST PLACE?? FACE IT.. WE ARE CONTROLLING NATURE FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT.. WHEN IT COMES TO THESE ISSUES IT ALWAYS BOILS DOWN TO MONEY!!!

b.busuttil

Sep 11th 2010, 20:16

postom mhux go aquarium :)

Kenneth Cassar

Sep 14th 2010, 14:40

And where do you think they got the original dolphins from?

Andrew Debono

Sep 11th 2010, 20:40

@ Dear Franco

I had already replied to you in the first birth and here I am again replying to your comment.

Now bare in mind that 1.5 months ago there was the 1st calf, today unfortunately for you there is the 2nd one. Now if you get the fact right is that dolphins are sexually active all year round but these times are the times that female dolphin get pregnant and or they give birth. So of course it is high season for the marine park but at least from what I can understand the management has reduced the operation load for the good of the dolphin in the park. This in my opinion is a good thing showing that carefor the animalsin the park is the priority in their agenda.

Andrew Debono

Sep 11th 2010, 20:45

@ Dear Franco

So you being at the forefront when it comes to writing in favour of animal rights? Were you there wen the animals mated? What Expertise do you have on dolphins? Are you an expert? Biologist? veterinarian specialized in marine mammals? trainer? breeder? other?

Please tell us your source of knowledge so that myself and others can understand

Andrew Debono

Sep 11th 2010, 20:50

Well Said Mary J Caruana. People should give idea based on facts an not personal opinion

Kenneth Cassar

Sep 14th 2010, 14:38

There is a very simple solution. Stop trapping dolphins from the wild and enclosing them in sterile pools.

Kenneth Cassar

Sep 14th 2010, 14:43

The fact itself that after a number of years the dolphins at Mediterraneo Park gave birth actually might indicate that they are unhappy with their captivity. Otherwise, breeding would not be so difficult and it would not make the news.

dvella

Sep 11th 2010, 15:49

mela qatt ma rajtu ta Flipper.

Andrew Debono

Sep 11th 2010, 20:34

@ Delia

First of all G.Delia dont beleive you are 13 yrs from your comment. If you are 13 maybe someone else helped you with this comment.

So as has been proven ,if a dolphin (using your same example as you mentioned) is given what he wants by human intervention this dolphin/s will remain in a small area were near humans. If you research a bit more you will find that you do find resident dolphins that ave chosen to stay near human.

Also the American military work with Open Ocean Programms and their collection of marine mammals stay with them even though these animals are working in the ocean were of course they can swim away without problems.

Maybe this will broaden your views http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/

Please say to mummy and daddy that you are entitled to your own opinion

Andrew Debono

Sep 12th 2010, 10:16

@ Delia,

I forgot to ask you this.

So lets assume this. Since your are young you fall under the care of your parents. Let say they dont feed you properly and you are unhappy .That can be reason for you for wanting to leave your home because you are not getting what your parents are oblidged to give you.

So if you are in an evironment that mentally and physically you are not receiving what you need. Your character and behaviour would change........ of course this is completely normal. But on the other hand if you given all the things to be physical and mentrally healthy you would want to stay and you will behave normally.

And this is exactly the point why the mentioned dolphins have shown.This looks like the last missing puzzle in the wellbeing of those animals as this circle of their life has become complete. I.e. These animals are mentally & physically healthy and happy, thus bahaving in a normal way in many ways, thus being comfortable to breed in captivity, thus their bodies are healthy enought to become pregnant and having a healthy calf in return. (Well actually two)

Andrew Debono

Sep 11th 2010, 20:49

So if you are sometimes ashamed to be a human being you can be a plant. Your decision!

Andrew Debono

Sep 11th 2010, 21:35

@ Eric

Cicco, this looked like advertising but also eco turism in any form is advertising. Including propaganda against zoos and aquaria.

So it was good to show that there is a team of people competent enough to have two successfull births and also have good animal fit to breed in a good environment.

I bet that more than 75% of the people that are writing never went to the place and if they did they never asked any questions to the people working there.

R Z

Sep 11th 2010, 14:53

please Mr. Pace. Do not try to diminish the gravity of this thing happening all over the world.

This is not a case like St. Lucjan Tower where they treat injured turtles (for example) until they are fit for release. This is a case of EXPLOITATION for business purposes. Why do you think they are breeding them? - for 'Love' between the parents - I don't think so. In my opinion they are having off springs for business continuation without the need to buy more.

Regarding your comments on pets. As far as i know dolphins have never been considered as pets. But hey I could mistaken, I'm sure dolphins love the pool, where they swim around in circles..and when they would want some excitement swim around in the other direction. They might like not being part of a pod (group of dolphins) and they probably appreciate the tiled(?) pool floor rather than natural sea bed with varying views and depths..Most probably I am mistaken!

"A dolphin's smile is the greatest deception. It creates the illusion that they're always happy."
- Richard O'Barry

Andrew Debono

Sep 11th 2010, 21:30

@ Joseph Zammit

Your are questioning Experts right? At least with the people that got involved with the TWO successfull births at Mediterraneo ,shows that they were experts and they succeeded (let me remind you again. TWICE they did).

Now answer this question if you may. What about the so called local experts and local NGO that should let the local public know about dolphins in our waters. Where are they? Is is true they are doing any research? Do they have any idea whats happening around Malta & Gozo? Where is this recent and relevant information? Are target names just having the name and thats it?

At least to be fair toward this park they are giving out some information about the animal captive or not. And they have an information programm at least. Some organizations all you hear from them is that it is bad for dolphins to be in a pool ( some people call it tank) and not to visit marine parks but as such no proper info is given about these animals.

Mary J Caruana

Sep 11th 2010, 12:07

Why do you keep saying prison, prison??? So what about birds in cages, where they can't even open their wings?? Snakes in little glass cages? Horses taking people around, resting under direct sunlight? It's never ending. That dolphinarium has everything according to the laws. If you don't like it, then take it with who does the laws.

Joe Cassar

Sep 11th 2010, 18:06

Ms Caruana, two wrongs don't make a right - neither do six, ten or a hundred.

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