I hope besides performing animals it would be a venue for education as well. I hope it is akin to something like live parks in hawaii or ocean park in hong kong.

Good luck to this project. I would love to see it come to life.

Posted by Charles P on April 5, 2011 12:10

Sounds like a great idea and as Charles suggests, would be nice if it was also used as an educational venue.

Posted by sky on April 5, 2011 13:06

No shortage of performing seals either.Take as many as you like out of the political arena.

Posted by davidj on April 5, 2011 14:02

> Dual pricing would be proposed, Mr McDaniel said,
> to make entry affordable to Thais.

Well done, don't expect me to come and visit the venue.

Posted by Fritz Pinguin on April 5, 2011 14:39

This is a disgraceful project, wild animals belong in the sea not in captivity. Dolphins are mostly captured inhumanely in Japan, the ones that survive are fortunate, most are slaughtered!

Posted by Roger on April 5, 2011 17:19

Another venue to apparently apply a dual pricing system which will make me give it a miss.

Disney in US offers discounts up to 50% to residents of the state in which the park operates regardless of their nationality. All others, including visiting americans from other states, pay full price.

Either offer discounted rates to all Phuket residents, regardless of their nationality or charge everyone the same.

Posted by Chris on April 5, 2011 18:28

LEAVE, your pie in the sky dreams in your native CANADA, leave RAWAI alone, just take a look what scars PURAVANA have left, they had major financial backing, but there dreams never worked either..i am not against Tourism, this seems to good to be true, not so long ago some UK expats had a dream about opening a FAIRGROUND and a holiday camp in RAWAI, needless to say they left with their heads between there knees and investment money gone...LEAVE RAWAI to the THAIS..

Posted by johndev on April 6, 2011 06:31

@johndev Couldn't agree more. Another "pie in the sky" idea.

Posted by mike on April 6, 2011 09:54

Classic example of greed at work, does he really care about the local population? secondly wild animals/mammals should be left in the wild free as nature intended, not kept in captivity, that is just plain cruel.

Posted by Wyn on April 6, 2011 12:10

I am disappointed to see that Mr McDaniel is either still ignorant of the extreme stress of captured and performing mammals or doesn't give a toss. I am aware that Canada's treatment of animals is still archaic. Wake up, Mr, this is 2011, not 1960. This is not ok and I will be publicising the fact on social websites and tourist forums. Please reconsider. The animals have a right not to be captives. The aquarium idea sounds good, but what is wrong with the current aquarium?

Posted by Tina on April 6, 2011 13:07

This is a very, very bad idea. This will put Phuket back 20 years. We all know that performing animals should be a thing of the past and we really should be moving forwards now to incorporate more socially and environmentally sound tourism initiatives.

Educational? There is nothing educational about watching animals taken out of their natural habitat and forced to perform to stupid humans.

And where and how will the animals be sourced? Come on Phuket, wake up.

Posted by Linda on April 6, 2011 14:38

Rawai really needs a rethink. With this proposal, the proliferation of elephant camps, the arrival of the long-neck lady freak show, the conversion of the island's most amazing viewpoint into a tour-bus parking lot, the squeezing out of the Moken (sea gypsies), I'm thinking some soul-searching is in desperate order for those with the power to control development. A real, sustained effort to protect and promote Rawai's precious assets are needed. Animal tricks are not the way to go!

Posted by Lana on April 6, 2011 18:18

Charles and Sky,

PHUKET HAS A VENUE FOR EDUCATION, IT IS CALLED THE PHUKET AQUARIUM.

They even have a tunnel you can walk through that is underwater.

http://www.phuketaquarium.org

It is managed by the Phuket Marine Biological Center.

I have personally interviewed several scientist there. They are smart and dedicated to PRESERVING the natural habitat, rescuing marine animals and trying to make Phuket a better place.

Not only that the PMBC also does A lot of education programs with local children in this area and works with UN sponsored programs. Why take away the business from the Thai Government?

Do we need two aquariums?

This is a diving destination and many people here know that animals belong in the sea not exploited.

I will launch a campaign with my network of environmentalists and divers against this starting with the TAT, Local Government and all NGOs involved in animal welfare.

Beware as we have been successful in many other campaigns with larger business then you. !!!!

Editor: for those of us who can see the horror of this whom do we need to send letters too directly to point out the detrimental consequences for all.

What is the email/mailing address of local government?


Thank you for your assistance.

Posted by Sylvie on April 6, 2011 20:29

Mr McDaniels is in for a long campaign against this horrible idea. We as Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand will campaign against these plans and will monitor that no wild caught animals will end up in that place. There is no need for a place like that in Thailand.

Edwin Wiek
Secretary-general
WFFT
www.wfft.org

Posted by Edwin Wiek on April 7, 2011 12:04

"Posted by Sylvie on April 6, 2011 20:29
Charles and Sky,

PHUKET HAS A VENUE FOR EDUCATION, IT IS CALLED THE PHUKET AQUARIUM."

I've been to the Aquarium a multitude of times. I take my family there, show my Thai Drivers license and get in for Thai price. I think it's a good venue and the people there do good work, especially with their turtle hatchery and marine animal rescue.

I would hope there would be some synergy between the two venues or better yet expand the Aquarium's site and facilities.

I would not like to patron a place where animals look unhappy and are mistreated. which is why I will never go to the Phuket Zoo. (I hear it's just sad)

But I believe there is a middle road which can combine some entertainment, education and scientific research.

I noticed my first post had a typo
Please take a look at Sea Life Park in Hawaii to see what I mean.
http://www.sealifeparkhawaii.com/

Posted by Charles P on April 7, 2011 16:30

WOW complete water project in 120-160 day's he must be willing to put the whole island to work otherwise you can hardly build a bungalow in such a short time on this island. Another case of over promise to the public. But heck just rent the current water show Park in Rawai add some Performing animals put it to use show the Government it works and build on that if he thinks he can make money.

Posted by mike on April 17, 2011 12:45