In early Dec. 2019, Resorts World Sentosa encountered backlash after footage of a distressed dolphin allegedly belonging to the corporation started circulating online.

You can watch the video here, uploaded by Facebook page Empty the Tanks:

The dolphin's behaviour suggests that it might be going insane from captivity, while the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) has confirmed that the mammal was engaging in self-mutilation.

When previously queried on the video, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) said that they were "uncertain" of the source of the video.

This was their statement in full:

“We are uncertain of the source of the video but we can share some natural behavioural traits of dolphins. Dolphins have a natural curiosity about people and their surroundings. They are also very social and enjoy playing with other dolphins. At Dolphin Island, we allow our dolphins to swim on their own or in groups at different timings where they can explore and interact with one another in our large interconnecting lagoons which can be differently reconfigured to encourage play and socialisation. As part of their natural behaviour, they communicate with each other through echolocation, making high-pitched clicking sounds and other playful actions such as nudging objects using their rostrums to attract attention.

Dolphin Island is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and we are committed to providing the highest level of husbandry and veterinary care for our marine mammals.”

Appeals for dolphins' release

To date, the video was been watched almost half a million times on Empty the Tank's Facebook page alone.

In addition to appeals from member of the public, both ACRES and The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have also requested that RWS let the dolphins go.

Due to their complex inner-life and remarkable intelligence, dolphins are unequivocally unsuitable for domestication or confinement, much less to perform party tricks for paying visitors.

For the RWS attraction, 27 dolphins were captured from the wild.

Three died of bacterial infections before they reached RWS, while a fourth died under RWS's care in 2014, even though it tested as "healthy" previously.

Identical response from RWS

In response to Mothership queries on the subject of ACRES and SPCA's appeals, RWS replied with an identical statement as the one previously.

The corporation reiterated that it is "uncertain" of the source of the video, and shared once more the "natural behavioural traits" of dolphins.

This is despite the fact that the questions asked were different.

You can read the statement here:

“We are uncertain of the source of the video but we can share some natural behavioural traits of dolphins. Dolphins have a natural curiosity about people and their surroundings. They are also very social and enjoy playing with other dolphins. At Dolphin Island, we allow our dolphins to swim on their own or in groups at different timings where they can explore and interact with one another in our large interconnecting lagoons which can be differently reconfigured to encourage play and socialisation. As part of their natural behaviour, they communicate with each other through echolocation, making high-pitched clicking sounds and other playful actions such as nudging objects using their rostrums to attract attention.

Dolphin Island is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and we are committed to providing the highest level of husbandry and veterinary care for our marine mammals.”

If you would like to support the cause, ACRES advises that members of the public stop visiting dolphinariums, including RWS'.

Top image via Empty the Tanks, RWS