Marine Life Park "World's Largest Oceanarium" set to open by mid-2012

Zooish

Zooish

Well-Known Member
20+ year member
What is touted to be the world's largest oceanarium is on track for completion by mid-2012. The Marine Life Park is part of a massive resort complex in Singapore which has 6 hotels, a casino and a Universal Studios theme park. Its official website: Resorts World Sentosa- Marine Life Park, world's largest oceanarium

In a press interview, the resort's owner mentioned that the only thing that could delay the opening of the oceanarium was the fabrication of a 33 metre (108ft) by 11 metre (36ft) acrylic viewing window (which would have showcased the previously planned but scrapped Whale Sharks). This would make it the biggest aquarium viewing window in the world, surpassing Dubai, Okinawa and Georgia aquariums. Now I just wonder what could fill such a large tank.

Details of the 8-hectare oceanarium are sketchy but it was previously reported that the park would have a large coral reef for wading, and swim with dolphins/sharks/rays programmes. The oceanarium's exhibits will supposedly hold 20 million gallons of water in total.

The oceanarium also has to fend off an animal rights group calling for the release of bottlenose dolphins destined for the oceanarium. The oceanarium had bought 27 wild-caught dolphins from the Solomon Islands, and 2 had died of disease while in temporary holding in Malaysia. The remaining 25 are now in temporary holding in the Philippines.

wildsingapore news: Resorts World Sentosa says it's "on track" for Phase 2 opening
wildsingapore news: Undercover videos released to back freedom for RWS dolphins
 
Zooish said:
The oceanarium also has to fend off an animal rights group calling for the release of bottlenose dolphins destined for the oceanarium. The oceanarium had bought 27 wild-caught dolphins from the Solomon Islands, and 2 had died of disease while in temporary holding in Malaysia. The remaining 25 are now in temporary holding in the Philippines.
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The animals are being held at Ocean Adventure Park. They were moved there because the death of the two animals and the fact the holding area appeared not to be suitable. This would seem to have been responsible and sensible thing to do.

Ocean Adventure Park is run by one of the most experience marine mammal welfare experts in the world Tim Desmond so the animals should be in good hands.

As for the animal-rights 'secret filming' as these animals are on public display it's hardly a secret.

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With the River Safari opening next year, Singapore will no doubt become the zoo capital of the world. I managed to spend 6-7 days there already back in early 2008, three days of which were spent at the zoo, but I wonder how long time I would need now.
 
this is fantastic news. As Baldur says, Singapore must surely be the zoo capital of the world - what other city has so many first-class captive animal attractions?! Singapore Zoo, Night Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, the upcoming River Safari, upcoming Marine Life Park, as well as the rather lesser inclusion of the Insect Park on Sentosa and the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum. (I am of course assuming the current Sentosa Aquarium will close after the opening of this new Oceanarium).

Actually I'm surprised there isn't a world-class reptile park in Singapore, the closest thing being the turtle/tortoise place and the grotty fortunately-now-closed place that used to be next to Jurong Bird Park. Maybe that's the next step for WRS?
 
My partner and I have earmarked Singapore and Thailand for our first overseas trip together next year. Looks like we'll have to time it carefully to ensure that River Safari and this incredible sounding new addition are both open.
 
Chlidonias said:
this is fantastic news. As Baldur says, Singapore must surely be the zoo capital of the world - what other city has so many first-class captive animal attractions?! Singapore Zoo, Night Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, the upcoming River Safari, upcoming Marine Life Park, as well as the rather lesser inclusion of the Insect Park on Sentosa and the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum. (I am of course assuming the current Sentosa Aquarium will close after the opening of this new Oceanarium).

Actually I'm surprised there isn't a world-class reptile park in Singapore, the closest thing being the turtle/tortoise place and the grotty fortunately-now-closed place that used to be next to Jurong Bird Park. Maybe that's the next step for WRS?
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Apparently the existing Underwater World on Sentosa will not be closing. Marine Life Park had approached it some time back about acquiring its collection and Underwater World said no. They built a new, albeit regretfully smaller, pool for their Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins just over a year ago. The company that runs Underwater World is a profit-driven enterprise (the company that makes Tiger Balm).

Reptiles are less attractive to the average zoo-goer, so a standalone reptile park is unlikely to happen again in Singapore. The now-defunct Jurong Reptile Park (not run by WRS) actually opened with a decent collection and fairly good displays, but it just couldn't attract enough visitors and went downhill quick before going bust.

In any case, Singapore is getting very saturated with animal parks, so it may be better to focus resources on the existing parks to keep them in good shape.
 
CGSwans said:
My partner and I have earmarked Singapore and Thailand for our first overseas trip together next year. Looks like we'll have to time it carefully to ensure that River Safari and this incredible sounding new addition are both open.
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I think September would be a safe bet, both attractions should be up and running by then.

If you're a plant lover too, the new 54-hectare Gardens by the Bay (billion-dollar, futuristic-looking botanical garden in the heart of the city) will be open by June 2012.
 
I'd be surprised if Underwater World can survive being in the same precinct as the new park.

How is the weather in September in Singapore? We'd like to go at a time of year that wasn't extremely hot and humid (bearing in mind that we'd probably also be going to Thailand).
 
CGSwans said:
How is the weather in September in Singapore? We'd like to go at a time of year that wasn't extremely hot and humid (bearing in mind that we'd probably also be going to Thailand).
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lol, that would be no time of year then :D
 
I looked it up - we're kinda out of luck. The dry season in Singapore is almost the wettest in Thailand, and vice versa. :(
 
CGSwans said:
How is the weather in September in Singapore? We'd like to go at a time of year that wasn't extremely hot and humid
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I am going for the hot weather and humidity. It's about 12 degrees this morning where I live. I can't wait to get to Singapore and 30 degrees.
 
boof said:
I am going for the hot weather and humidity. It's about 12 degrees this morning where I live. I can't wait to get to Singapore and 30 degrees.
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And I'd gladly wake up to 12-degree weather! :D
 
John Dineley said:
The animals are being held at Ocean Adventure Park. They were moved there because the death of the two animals and the fact the holding area appeared not to be suitable. This would seem to have been responsible and sensible thing to do.

Ocean Adventure Park is run by one of the most experience marine mammal welfare experts in the world Tim Desmond so the animals should be in good hands.

As for the animal-rights 'secret filming' as these animals are on public display it's hardly a secret.

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I notice that yet again the 'rights' group AZAAZ are getting it's colective ill-informed knickers in a twist over the issue of the dolphins I mentioned above. However, their credibility is somewhat undermined as with many of these groups by telling lies to support there position.

Dolphins in well run aquaria DO NOT die young (half dead within 2 years), they DO NOT commit suicide nor do they go mad using their sonar because their homes become 'trapped in an endless house of mirrors' and neither are the starved of food.

Back ground to this can be found here for detailed information regarding captive survivorship, sonar use, suicide:

Marine Animal Welfare: General Information

Of course, behind all this lurks as always 'dolphin expert' Ric O'Barry famous for his part in The Cove - which was also economic with the truth regarding captive dolphins. Two videos here highlighted why:

Marine Animal Welfare: The Cove & Dolphinaria

Also O'Barry and others was found guilty of repeated violations of federal animal welfare requirements and illegally releasing dolphins back to the wild in Florida in 1999. This is why I suspect he now operates outside the USA.

NOAA press releases here:

THE SUGARLOAF DOLPHIN RELEASES


*As a personal aside it is very disappointing that the Avaaz would involve itself in an animal welfare issue when clearly they know very little about the subject. Moreover such rather foolish actions are bound to tarnishes other human rights activities they have across the globe that certainly appear to have merit. One could reasonable ask if they lie about dolphins in captive care what lies are they telling in their other campaigns.​
 
CGSwans said:
I'd be surprised if Underwater World can survive being in the same precinct as the new park.

How is the weather in September in Singapore? We'd like to go at a time of year that wasn't extremely hot and humid (bearing in mind that we'd probably also be going to Thailand).
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If September is on the cards why not tie in your visit with the 4th International Congress on Zookeeping on 9-13 September 2012? I am sure it would make any visit just that bit more interesting and exciting.
 
now that sounds interesting....I might have to make it September for my visit as well!
 
"TheThemeParkGuy.com" has posted some construction update photos of the Marine Life Park. In the linked photo below, the dome-like structure in the center will supposedly be the open ocean tank - which would have housed the whale sharks if they had not been dropped from the collection.

http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/park...-the-left-equarius-hotel-to-the-right-big.jpg

You can get a good sense of the size of the tank compared to the cranes around it.

More photos on The Theme Park guy's website, which incorrectly labels the Marine Life Park by its old name "Equarius Water Park". The Marine Life Park will be linked to a water park and a hotel, and is scheduled to open in mid-2012.

The park is still being dogged by animal rights group and Ric O'Barry of "The Cove" fame to release 25 wild-caught dolphins which will be housed at the park. 27 dolphins were originally caught in the Solomon Islands and housed temporarily in Malaysia and Philippines while the park is being constructed. 2 dolphins died in Malaysia due to bacterial infection, which gave ammo for the animal rights community to launch a campaign calling for the release of the surviving 25 dolphins (which are still in holding in the Philippines). The park, having conceited to the previous campaign to drop whale sharks from its collection, has thus far refused to budge on the dolphins.

acres - Animal Concerns Research & Education Society
http://www.saddestdolphins.com/
 
Zooish said:
The park is still being dogged by animal rights group and Ric O'Barry of "The Cove" fame to release 25 wild-caught dolphins which will be housed at the park. 27 dolphins were originally caught in the Solomon Islands and housed temporarily in Malaysia and Philippines while the park is being constructed. 2 dolphins died in Malaysia due to bacterial infection, which gave ammo for the animal rights community to launch a campaign calling for the release of the surviving 25 dolphins (which are still in holding in the Philippines). The park, having conceited to the previous campaign to drop whale sharks from its collection, has thus far refused to budge on the dolphins.

acres - Animal Concerns Research & Education Society
World's Saddest Dolphins
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I posted a response regarding ACRES on another forum which I am reposting below as general information:

Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) who set up the campaign produced the usual misinformation about dolphins in captive care on their web site to support their position so basically they can't be trusted in any of their public statements and they certainly can not be considered to be involved in any education or research. Further, if you look at their web site in detail they are actually an animal-rights not welfare group promoting a political ideology very much like PeTA with an active programme of indoctrination via school visit, the promotion of vegan lifestyle, etc.

As to captive dolphins they state such things as:

“30% - 80% of dolphins die during capture”: - which is a wide margin of error and actually not supported by the actual facts if you look at places such as the USA and I doubt if these figure where support by the captures in the Solmons Islands. This could be true of animals from a drive fishery but these operations are design to kill animals and the few taken into aquaria from such enterprises can not be said to have been professionally captured. Moreover in Sarasota the Dolphin Research Program has regularly been capturing and releasing animals for research and they certainly haven’t observed high mortality.

“The dolphins in concrete-walled pools face the worst hell of all, with their sonar bouncing back and forth deafeningly.” - Of course sonar is supposed to bounce that how it works. Dolphins use their sonar with no problems in captivity and they can switch it on or off and control its volume. Much of the research into dolphin sonar was with captive animals in tanks anyway including research to save wild dolphins from net entrapment.

More information of dolphin sonar HERE

“(captive dolphins show) suicidal behaviour and unnatural aggression” – there is absolutely no evidence dolphins commit suicide in captivity this is a myth that was propagated by animal-rights activist Ric O’Barry and relates to his subjective opinion on the death of a dolphin many years ago in Miami. Neither do they regularly ram pool wall to kill themselves. Adult dolphins can be aggressive both in the wild and in captive care it is normal behaviour.

More information of dolphin 'suicide' HERE

“Humans visitors to marine aquariums often fail to see that the dolphins there had to have been ripped from their natural ocean environments,” – Indeed the animals where wild caught but most of the animals on display in mainland Europe and the USA are captive bred. Moreover, before dolphins were caught in the Solomons many were traditional kill for food and as trophies.

“Dolphins are incredibly clever creatures, even brighter than chimpanzees according to some scientists. They are capable of great emotion and sensitivity.” – The current consensus among scientists is that dolphins are not as intelligent as promoted. Certainly the Great Ape including the chimpanzee could be considered higher if you are looking at this question.

As to the movie The Cove some background to various claims it made about captivity HERE

and Ric O'Barry HERE
 
Zooish said:
The Marine Life Park will be linked to a water park and a hotel, and is scheduled to open in mid-2012.
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with the River Safari opening date pushed back to October (for now!), any idea on what month the Marine Life Park is scheduled to open?

There should be a world-first Singapore Zoochat Get-together in late 2012!
 
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