MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS – POLICY ON CARE OF ANIMALS
Merlin Entertainments is the world’s second largest visitor attraction operator with 59 attractions around the world, and the world’s premier operator of aquaria through its SEA LIFE brand. Merlin has an excellent record and reputation for the ethical and responsible care, preservation and conservation of animals through its work at the Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo (CWoA) in the ; and the marine environment through SEA LIFE. This is demonstrated both by the quality of our animal husbandry on every site; and the campaigns and breeding programmes of which we are a part; and the detailed and inspiring educational programmes we run on all our sites for both schools and individual visitors.
SEA LIFE
In many of our aquariums for example we rescue, rehabilitate and release marine animals in distress; while our SOS (Save Our Seas) programmes have achieved significant global recognition and delivered real conservation successes. Most recently in Scotland for example we have successfully lobbied to ban the renewal of commercial shark fishing licenses; and two sea lochs have been designated marine protected areas because we have proven that they are valuable breeding and nursery grounds for various species of sharks and rays.
We also have very clear policies relating to the captivity, care and treatment of marine mammals. Indeed in the case of dolphins and other cetaceans we have a clear stated policy of concern as to their suitability as display animals, and the company has never condoned the capture of these creatures from the wild for entertainment purposes, or indeed at all. This is highlighted by our close working relationship with organisations such as WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society; most recently in organising a Junior Whale Conference for schools in the to discuss/lobby on the important issues surrounding whale conservation prior to the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission next June 2010.
Given Merlin’s fast growth over the last 3 years, we have at times acquired businesses which historically have included shows which involve creatures. In every case we have worked with experts to take immediate action, and develop plans which we believe are in the best interest of the welfare of the animals involved. These have included in some cases the cessation or complete change of content of entertainment ‘shows’ involving them - as with the sea lion shows in Heide Park (Germany) and Gardaland (Italy). This is to ensure that any future presentations are simply designed to highlight the creatures’ more natural behaviour and instincts, and are purely educational. Our objective with these presentations is that these ‘ambassador’ creatures should inspire empathy in our visitors, highlighting their plight in the wild. We are never complacent however, and our always mindful of our responsibilities to the welfare of the animals in our care, so this policy is constantly monitored.
Simultaneously we have reviewed the environment and care of the creatures in every location, and where we do not believe this is adequate or appropriate we have acted decisively.
Dolphins
Merlin Entertainments has always been committed to ensuring the best possible welfare solution for the few dolphins that have come into our care through facility acquisition. We have commissioned WDCS to undertake a feasibility study to evaluate all possible future scenarios. Whilst we conclude this project, we have sought temporary re-housing for two of our dolphins from in . Both have settled in well at Nurnberg Zoo where we continue to work closely with their keepers to ensure they receive the very best of care.
Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo
Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo is a member of both EAZA – European Association of Zoos and Aquaria BIAZA – British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria, both of which have stringent codes of practice and ethics covering animal management, conservation, education research and operations. The Park also employs an independent expert on animal welfare and veterinary matters who is also a zoo inspector and retained by DEFRA to consult on zoo licensing and zoo inspector training.
CWoA also works hard to raise awareness of conservation issues through student education programmes and high profile campaigns. The Park is involved with many national and international breeding programmes to secure the long term future of rare and endangered species. This is to maintain genetically healthy and demographically balanced populations of animals, and has some of the world’s most successful breeding families of both the critically endangered Sumatran tigers and Western Lowland gorillas. In 2008 Chessington Zoo collected the BIAZA Award for Significant Contribution to Conservation Breeding for its successful tiger-breeding programme.