By Yi Whan-woo



A shower of criticism from environmental groups sprayed the return of the dolphin show on Sunday at the Seoul Zoo. The city government had originally decided to cease the show on March 19.



The animal rights activists claimed the show titled “Ecological Tales on Dolphins” is a form of animal cruelty.



The 20-minute live show runs three times a day and introduces five dolphins, including Jedol. Last month Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon officially terminated the dolphin show and moved to release Jedol into the ocean. Animal rights advocates believe that the dolphin was captured illegally.



In contrast from the shows before March 19, the performance this time consisted of low-intensity activities by the dolphins, according to a Seoul Zoo official.



Rather than riding on the back of a dolphin, a trainer stands aside and explains the nature of the sea mammals while the visitors observe the animals that are instructed to swim or jump in a pool.



“It seemed as if the dolphins were bored since they stopped performing from March 19, and we wanted to help them recover their natural instincts,” a trainer said.



“The show especially is to give Seoul citizens a chance to see Jedol as much as possible as he will be released into the waters around Jeju Island sometime soon.”



The advocates rejected such statements and countered that the show is virtually no different from the one previously held for the past 28 years in a confined pool.



“We would say this Ecological Tale thing is another form of animal cruelty, said an official from the Korea Federation for Environment Movements, a watchdog for nature and ecology.



“A trainer induces a dolphin to jump by offering food rewards. This is exactly the same as before and is strictly for entertaining an audience.”



The Korean Society for Animal Freedom, a group of animal lovers who have actively protested the illegal poaching of sea mammals, echoed the view.



“All we can say is this is still the exploitation of dolphins under the excuse that they are less extreme activities,” the group said in a statement.



Fearing extinction of the sea mammals, animal rights activists have opposed the commercial use of dolphins by zoos across the country, such as Jungmun Marine Park Pacificland.



The maritime entertainment business company on Jeju Island is under pressure to release all of its five dolphins to the open sea. The Jeju District Court ruled on April 6 that the company’s dolphins were captured illegally for financial gains.



The company still runs the dolphin show despite the court’s decision, and the animal rights advocates are trying to seek the release of the five dolphins as quickly as possible along with Jedol.



“There are 26 dolphins across the five zoos that are confined for entertainment purposes or under the excuse of ‘ecological experience,’” an activist said.



“As the six among those 26 are set to be free, we’ll push forward to bring freedom to the rest.”



The animal lovers say the public can still have a chance to observe ecological nature of dolphins once the business owners adopt open sea tourism.



“More than 70 countries run tour programs in which tourists can enjoy dolphins in their natural habitat.”

서울대공원이 '돌고래 생태설명회'라는 이름으로 돌고래 쇼를 재개하자 동물보호 관련 시민단체들이 반발하고 나서는 등 논란이 일고 있다. 서울대공원은 22일부터 매일 3회씩 20분간 돌고래교감행동 풍부화 프로젝트를 진행해 시민들에게 무료 관람토록 한다고 밝혔다. 20분간 진행된 이날 설명회에서 조련사는 제돌이를 소개하고 관람객들에게 돌고래의 습성ㆍ외형 등과 어류와의 차이 등을 설명했다. 조련사들은 돌고래가 빠르게 헤엄치도록 유도하고 제자리에서 솟구치는 모습도 연출했다. 아이들은 돌고래의 조그만 행동에도 탄성을 내질렀다. 서울대공원 관계자는 "지난달 19일부터 돌고래 쇼가 중단된 이후 돌고래들이 무료해 하는 것 같아 돌고래 습성을 찾아주기 위해 조련사와 돌고래가 물속에서 같이 놀아주는 교감행동 풍부화 프로젝트를 계획했고 이를 시민들에게 공개하는 것"이라며 "특히 시민들에게 방사가 결정된 '제돌이'와 헤어지는 아쉬움을 달래주기 위한 것"이라고 취지를 설명했다. 하지만 환경 관련 시민단체들은 이를 놓고 '축소된 돌고래 쇼'라고 반발했다. 이들은 돌고래에게 점프를 시키는 등의 설명회는 일반 돌고래 쇼와 다를 게 없다는 주장이다. 최예영 환경운동연합 바다위원회 부위원장은 "단순히 돌고래의 생태를 설명하며 모습을 보여주는 것은 관계 없지만 이번 생태설명회는 변형된 돌고래 쇼"라고 비난했다. 최부위원장은 "방사가 결정된 '제돌이'를 계속 사람에게 노출시키는 것은 다른 목적이 있는 것으로 보인다"고 말했다. 그러나 서울대공원 측은"조련사가 돌고래를 타는 등 돌고래에게 무리가 가는 행동이 포함되지 않은 순수한 설명회를 갖고 문제를 삼는 것은 지나친 간섭"이라고 반박했다. 6살 자녀와 함께 설명회를 지켜본 주부 박모(44)씨는 "(돌고래 쇼가) 없어지면 서운할 것 같다"며 "과감한 동작이 없어서 그렇지 밋밋한 돌고래 쇼 같다"고 말했다.