Yesterday I joined a group of protestors outside the Town Council building in Bodrum. Our number was small but forty thousand people have signed a petition demanding the closure of Dolphin Parks in Turkey. Earlier in the year, hopes had been raised as a draft amendment to the animal protection law promised to make these parks (and circuses using animals) illegal but in an abrupt about-face, this amendment has been dropped. The reason given is that these parks introduce youngsters to nature. Thirty years ago I was saddened to see dancing bears in the streets of Bodrum, I wonder if the ministers who dropped this bill, think that dancing bears too encourage children to appreciate wildlife. The dolphins in these parks look just as forlorn as the bears in their chains. The only way to see dolphins is in the wild. Don't visit these parks. Take a boat trip instead and you might be rewarded with the sight of these magnificent creatures in all their exuberant glory as they race alongside. It is a crime to imprison these naturally vivacious and animated creatures to make money. And big money it must be. Money is talking. Our mayor, initially sympathetic to the cause was "unavailable" to accept the petition yesterday.
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