Dubai Dolphinarium

Dubai Dolphinarium is the first fully air-conditioned indoor dolphinarium in the Middle East, providing habitat to dolphins and seals, allowing the public to watch and interact with them through live shows and photo sessions. It is located in the creek side park at Bur Dubai near the Children's City. Dubai Dolphinarium was opened on May 21, 2008 by Dubai Municipality, and is sponsored and supported by Dubai government to provide the general public with entertainment and also educate them regarding dolphins, seals and other marine organisms.[1] It was also reflected that interacting with such friendly mammals like dolphins will motivate young generation to protect marine life and the environment.

Dubai Dolphinarium
Dolphin show
Date openedMay 21, 2008
LocationDubai, United Arab Emirates
Coordinates25.2346°N 55.3267°E / 25.2346; 55.3267
Floor space5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft)
Websitewww.dubaidolphinarium.ae

Facilities

Dubai Dolphinarium is a 5,000-square-meter (54,000 sq ft) modern marine facility with around 1250 seating capacity. The Dolphins have their own private habitat area with 600 cubic metres (160,000 US gal) of sea water connected to the main arena pool. There is a separate medical pool and seal pool constructed considering well being of these marine mammals.[2]

The dolphinarium complex also features group and kids activities, birthday parties for kids, school field trips, group events, trampoline, swim with dolphins, mirror maze, bird show, a restaurant providing quick and fun meals for kids and a mini 5-D & 7D cinema theater.

Marine mammals

Dubai Dolphinarium is home to bottlenose dolphins and Northern fur seals.[3] These dolphins and seals were reportedly bought from a country belonging to the Commonwealth of Independent States, an alliance of 11 former Soviet republics.[4]

Activities

Various activities like kids summer camp and Dubai Summer Surprises are held at the Dubai Dolphinarium every year during summer holidays.

Dubai Dolphinarium in association with Dubai Municipality organized an Autism Awareness Day from various autism care centres and training centres for children with special needs on April 28, 2011.[5]

Dubai Dolphinarium welcomed its one millionth visitor during March, 2012 and various promotional activities were featured during this period.[6]

Management

This establishment is managed by a staff of 60 including mammal trainers and customer supporting staff.

Criticisms

Dubai Dolphinarium had come under criticism from various animal welfare campaigners in the beginning saying, it would lead to suffering and high dolphin mortality. Activists also questioned the source of its black sea bottlenose dolphins, claiming that one of them was not born in captivity but rescued from fishermen’s nets, and therefore should have been re-released.[7]

However the management has countered these criticisms stating that the dolphins in Dubai Dolphinarium are third generation dolphins who were born in artificial conditions and are perfectly happy in their current environment and role, and are healthier all year round than their wild counterparts.[8][9]

See also

References
  1. Johnson, Alice. "Dubai Dolphinarium opens in Creekside Park". gulfnews.com. Al Nisr Publishing LLC. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  2. "Dubai Dolphinarium Travel Guide". www.holidayfactors.com. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  3. "Marine Mammals". www.dubaidolphinarium.ae. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  4. "Dubai Dolphinarium denies wild dolphin report". www.uaeinteract.com. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  5. "Autism Awareness Day at Dubai Dolphinarium". www.ameinfo.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  6. "Dubai Dolphinarium to welcome its 'one millionth visitor' in March". www.gulftoday.ae. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  7. "Dubai dolphinarium on track". www.ameinfo.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  8. "Dubai Dolphinarium at the Creekside Park". nadiamasood.com. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  9. "Fun at Dubai Dolphinarium". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
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