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Dubai hotel urged to free shark | Dubai hotel urged to free shark |
(40 minutes later) | |
Pressure is growing on Dubai's newest and largest hotel resort to free a whale shark from its aquarium. | Pressure is growing on Dubai's newest and largest hotel resort to free a whale shark from its aquarium. |
The Atlantis Hotel, on the iconic Palm Jumeirah island, originally said it had "rescued" the animal, which is recognised as an endangered species. | The Atlantis Hotel, on the iconic Palm Jumeirah island, originally said it had "rescued" the animal, which is recognised as an endangered species. |
The hotel is now refusing to say if or when the whale shark will be released. | The hotel is now refusing to say if or when the whale shark will be released. |
Environmentalists and Dubai residents are now demanding that the shark - nicknamed Sammy by one paper - should be released into its natural habitat. | |
The Atlantis hotel, which opened last month, was billed as the biggest and one of the best resorts in Dubai. | The Atlantis hotel, which opened last month, was billed as the biggest and one of the best resorts in Dubai. |
But it has already witnessed some major setbacks. A fire billowed smoke through the lobby three weeks before the opening. | But it has already witnessed some major setbacks. A fire billowed smoke through the lobby three weeks before the opening. |
Then, a week after opening, one of its main water valves ruptured, resulting in no water in much of the hotel. | Then, a week after opening, one of its main water valves ruptured, resulting in no water in much of the hotel. |
Now the focus is on the 4m (13ft) whale shark that circles the hotel's aquarium - a tank built to invoke the ruins of Atlantis, the so-called Lost City. | Now the focus is on the 4m (13ft) whale shark that circles the hotel's aquarium - a tank built to invoke the ruins of Atlantis, the so-called Lost City. |
Mobilisation | Mobilisation |
The shark, who could grow up to 12m (39ft), was caught off the coast of Dubai six weeks ago. | The shark, who could grow up to 12m (39ft), was caught off the coast of Dubai six weeks ago. |
The management talk of "rescuing" an animal, who was in distress, but former employees have told the local press that capturing a whale shark was always part of the hotel's plan to provide an added tourist attraction. | The management talk of "rescuing" an animal, who was in distress, but former employees have told the local press that capturing a whale shark was always part of the hotel's plan to provide an added tourist attraction. |
An independent survey has shown more than a third of those questioned would be more likely to visit the resort to see it, but there is a growing swell of public opinion that the animal should be released and tagged. | An independent survey has shown more than a third of those questioned would be more likely to visit the resort to see it, but there is a growing swell of public opinion that the animal should be released and tagged. |
Whale sharks are protected under the Cites convention and the plight of this member of an endangered species has captured the imagination of the public. | Whale sharks are protected under the Cites convention and the plight of this member of an endangered species has captured the imagination of the public. |
One popular newspaper has launched a freedom campaign. | One popular newspaper has launched a freedom campaign. |
Children are talking about it in school assemblies and local environmentalists are strongly urging its release. | Children are talking about it in school assemblies and local environmentalists are strongly urging its release. |
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