SIC and Zoomarine suspended the television program «Dolphins with Stars», whose recordings were scheduled to start this Tuesday, following unfavorable opinions from entities that regulate the activity of the Algarve theme park.
The Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) and the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV) were not sensitive to the arguments presented "in a detailed exhibition prepared by Zoomarine, regarding the contents of the television program" and "failed" the intentions of the two promoters of this project, which is based on the format already tested in other countries «Dolphins with the Stars».
According to the theme park, located in Albufeira, "any legal precedence or absence of licensing on the part of Zoomarine" is not at issue. «Also the safety and welfare conditions of the animals are fully safeguarded, as this is Zoomarine's first priority in the past, present and future, ensured by a team of technicians, dedicated and passionate about their profession and animal life» , guaranteed Zoomarine, in a statement.
«In addition to the entertainment component, which did not have a unique feature in the programme, the strong presence of Research, Conservation and Education contents stood out, the three main values that guide Zoomarine's activity in Portugal», summarized the company Algarve.
«It is the conviction of both Zoomarine and SIC that these contents would further sensitize the Portuguese to this magnificent marine species, give them a little more knowledge and help people to change their behavior a little more, as a way of help the conservation of marine ecosystems,” he added.
"If the program had not been disallowed by these official entities, for the first time in prime time, a television program would broadcast extensive contents of Science, Conservation and Education of marine life and dolphins in particular", he defended.
SIC had also already reacted to the negative opinions of the program, but it did not completely close the door to an eventual advance of the program. “SIC is analyzing the ICNF's reasoning for this “unfavorable” opinion and will decide in due course on possible initiatives in the legal sphere”, reads a note released by the television station.
In addition to the two state entities, the People-Animals-Nature Party (PAN) also protested against the format and announced that it had presented a Precautionary Providence «with the request for the immediate suspension of the use of wildlife in the context of the Dolphins with Stars program recordings , in Portuguese Golfinhos com as Estrelas and even issuing the report of the opinion of the Ethics and Monitoring Committee of Zoos».
The program «Danças com Dolphins» would be presented by Bárbara Guimarães and would involve 10 guests, who would have a direct interaction with the dolphins. For a week, the famous guests would have to act as trainers and prepare a show of acrobatics and dances with dolphins. Diogo Morgado and Luciana Abreu were two of the stars already confirmed.
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