Dophinarium opens in Yerevan amid public protests
A dophinarium was opened in Yerevan on December 24 amid heated public protests. Before the official ceremony, Armenian environmentalists disseminated flyers informing about the dangers of dophinarium.
"Dolphins kept in captivity often pose a serious threat to themselves and human beings. Dolphins kept in a non-free environment have shorter life and are constantly subjected to physical torture," said Hrayr Savzyan, a representative of Eco Dar NGO.
Besides, dolphins may carry diseases that can be transferred to humans through contact.
Andrei Kislovski, the director of the entertainment center, says the opening of dophinariums is accompanied by similar protests in all countries. In response to the environmentalists' concerns that dolphins are kept in unfavourable conditions, Kislovski reminded that the biggest dophinarium in the world is in Orland, USA, which is a long way from the sea.
Yerevan audience was deeply impressed today by the magnificent show of sea mammals.
The construction of the dolphinarium was implemented by Nerum Ukrainian Company. Four dolphins, two sea bears and a sea lion were brought to Yerevan from Odessa.
The tickets are sold at AMD 2000 on working days and AMD 3000 at weekends.
The pool in which the dolphins are kept is 18 meters in diameter and is 5 meters deep.
