Jane Goodall: As long as Ocean Park has a dolphin show, it’s not a good organisation

Dr. Jane Goodall speaking at the British Council last night. (Laurel Chor/Coconuts Media)

UPDATE: See Ocean Park’s response to Goodall’s remarks.

Dr. Jane Goodall, speaking to the press before an event at the British Council last night, said that even if Ocean Park funds conservation activities, “as long as they have a dolphin show, they’re not a good organization, according to me”. 

Ocean Park, which 7.7 million people visit every year, has an “Ocean Wonders” show that features dolphins and sea lions performing tricks in front of a live audience.

On its website, the theme park says the show “underscores the urgent need to protect our oceans and marine animals”. 

The prominent conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace has intentionally declined to visit Ocean Park: “I decided I definitely didn’t want to go there.”

“I know what it’s like. Seeing it doesn’t make a difference.”

(Full disclosure: I used to work for Ocean Park Conservation Foundation and I am affiliated with the Jane Goodall Institute Hong Kong.)

When asked about animals in captivity, Goodall said that it’s possible for certain animals to be happy in such conditions – including chimpanzees, the animals for which she’s famously advocated – but “the worst of all is [captive] whales and dolphins”.

She called the state of captive whales and dolphins “wicked, absolutely shocking”, explaining that in their aquarium habitats, the cetaceans “get bombarded with sound”.

“I’ve talked to people studying whales and they say it’s acoustical hell,” she continued. “It’s not just their own sounds bouncing back but it’s the water pumps and things like that.”

Goodall also compared the popular theme park to SeaWorld in California, which has its own controversial orca show.

 “We’re fighting SeaWorld at the moment and SeaWorld has said we don’t care what any conservation organization says, we shall continue to catch dolphins and exhibit them,” she added.

Neither Ocean Park nor SeaWorld have responded to requests for comment.

Goodall will be speaking tonight in Happy Valley at a Royal Geographical Society premiere of a documentary about the ivory trade.

(Full disclosure: I was involved with the production and will be speaking at the event.)