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EDITION 608
FRIDAY 31st AUGUST TO THURSDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 2018 MOVIES AT ...
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TOURISTS FURIOUS AT DOLPHIN POOL PROTEST
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NIMAL activists have been slammed for their “irresponsible” behaviour after three members of the Vegan Strike Group jumped into the pool during a dolphin show at Loro Parque. The group says it carried out the demonstration on Sunday “because of the exploitation of dolphins, orcas and sea lions for entertainment purposes.” Vegan Strike says Loro Parque has been on its “wish list” for “a long time” and claims these type of shows are cruel and constitute animal abuse. The allegations have been refuted by Loro Parque, one of the biggest tourist attractions on the island, and also led to a backlash from people who were at the show. As the three campaigners wearing diving gear jumped into the pool, holding protest banners, they were booed and jeered at and told to “go home”. Loro Parque staff had to calm the dolphins at the edge of the water whilst the demonstrators were escorted off the premises.
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The group alleged: “For the fourth time, our Vegan Strike Group activists have disrupted a dolphin show on Spanish soil. This was the 14th time we took action for the dolphins and the sea lions since the foundation of the Vegan Strike Group.” And they continued: “We took this action for both the dolphins and for the orcas as they are being exploited in this horrible park. The park has been receiving negative media attention for years, because of the exploitation of dolphins, orcas and sea lions for entertainment purposes. People are becoming more and more aware of the cruelty behind this form of entertainment.” However, negative comments have appeared even on Vegan Strike’s social network, with most claiming it
We strongly condemn this type of behaviour of the self-proclaimed activists who have put in grave danger the lives of these animals, of their trainers and even their own.
They have demonstrated zero concern for the wellbeing of the animals, their only objective is to attract the attention of the media. Loro Parque appreciated the reaction of the public who have expressed their indignation with this act of vandalism and also want to thank all those concerned for the support in the social networks.
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In a statement on its Facebook site, Vegan Strike said it was “very satisfied” with their protest and claimed the three activists were not arrested or taken to the police station.
Loro Parque statement
was an irresponsible act which could have harmed the animals. One person at the show said jumping into the pool would have distressed the dolphins and the protestors
“obviously lacked commonsense.” Another said the demonstration was “stupid and disgusting”. Another said ever yone was entitled to their own views over what constituted animal cruelty but this was not the right way to go about it. And another said: “This group makes no effort to
distinguish itself from other animal rights organisations in its invasion of what is home to a number of marine mammals at a highly respected zoo, putting them at considerable risk. Once again, we are shown, without a shadow of a doubt, that animal welfare is of secondar y concern to these people.”
Toll of hospital arson attack Their swift response almost certainly prevented the incident from being even more serious and potentially saved lives. The fire is believed to have been started deliberately by a woman with some sort of grievance against the hospital. She has already been arrested and remanded in custody, facing charges of arson and endangering lives and up to 20 years in prison. The hospital says 100 per cent of the building not
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HE emergency ser vices have been widely praised for their “excellent” work in tackling the blaze at Tenerife’s Candelaria Hospital which led to the evacuation of 160 patients on August 13th.
affected by the fire is now back to normal but work on the pediatric observation area will continue for at least another two weeks. The work will cost about two million euros. Both the hospital management and Santa Cruz council have thanked all involved in dealing with the emergency with such great professionalism.