Underwater World clarifies dolphin's skin condition

"Health checks are conducted regularly and the results show that, apart from the cancer, which is being specifically treated, the dolphin is generally in good health," a spokesman said. It is now being treated by a marine mammal veterinarian.

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Pink dolphin at Underwater World Singapore has non-contagious skin cancer

SINGAPORE - Underwater World Singapore (UWS) has come under fire after animal welfare groups accused them of keeping their animals in poor conditions. They have since responded by stating that one of their pink dolphins is suffering from a non-contagious form of skin cancer, according to The Straits Times.

The marine mammal is currently undergoing regular health checks and is said to be in good health despite the cancer, reported The Straits Times.

Channel NewsAsia reported that the dolphin no longer appears in public as often as before and if anyone asked, UWS would explain about the dolphin's condition.

A local animal welfare group, Wildlife Watcher, stated on its Facebook page that it had launched an investigation on the living conditions of dolphins kept in Dolphin Lagoon within UWS. The investigation has since been completed and the report was made available to the public on Wildlife Watcher's Facebook page.

However, the link to the 31-page report was temporarily suspended at about noon due to high traffic volume, according to a Facebook post made by one of Wildlife Watcher's members. The link did not work as well when checked by AsiaOne.

According to The Straits Times, the report had been sent earlier this month to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Haw Par Corp - the organisation that manages UWS.

Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES) Chief Executive Louis Ng said that he was "appalled by the conditions of the dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon" and hopes for the confinement of marine mammals in captivity to end, reported Channel NewsAsia.

Despite this, AVA has found the facility within which the dolphins are kept to be of "satisfactory condition", according to The Straits Times.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg