A coalition advocating for dolphin welfare is demanding an explanation from officials over a suspicion that two dolphins rescued from captivity went missing from the Bali Exotic Marine Park.
In a press release published today, the coalition — comprised of Indonesian public figures and animal rights activists including Davina Veronica and Nadine Chandrawinata — highlighted the plight of the dolphins rescued from the banned Dolphin Lodge earlier this year, which they say are in “worse condition” at their temporary location at the Bali Exotic Marine Park.
The coalition spokesman, Pinneng Sulungbudi, told Coconuts via WhatsApp today that their team visited the park in early October, only to find that two of the 7 dolphins rescued from the Dolphin Lodge are missing.
“When we got there, we were shocked,” the coalition said. ”Of the 3 existing pools, 5 dolphins from Bali Dolphin Lodge are placed in the same small and shallow pool. They are also constantly exposed to the sun.”
“In addition, we found an oddity: there should have been seven dolphins there. Where are the other two dolphins?”
An online petition started by the coalition has garnered over 70,000 signatures as of today, in which they demand the rescued dolphins to be returned to the ocean. Following their discovery in early October on the missing dolphins, the coalition is now calling for an explanation from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Coconuts has reached out to the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) in Bali but has yet to receive a response.
