Dolphins, jobs at center of marine-park debate

Panama

A marine park proposed for an impoverished area of Panama has drawn passionate opposition from animal rights activists who say “swim-with-the-dolphins” programs are inhumane and threatening to dolphins in the wild. Demonstrators this year have protested the initiative in Panama City, wielding rubber dolphins, beating conga drums and holding up signs that read “Assassins” and “Defend the Dolphins.” Executives from Wildlife International Network, a company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, forecast their proposed US$500-million resort and aquatic park will bring in tens of millions of dollars in revenue. The executives say the project, called Ocean Embassy Panama, will create more than 1,000 jobs in the municipality of San Carlos, a downtrodden stretch of the Pacific Coast where most of the 30,000... [Log in to read more]

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