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I'm sure I'm not the only one getting ridiculously
excited about Dubai's impending Dolphinarium, due to
open to the public in what is now a fairly serene Creekside
Park. I even went as far as checking out the website,
in anticipation of finally having that one on one encounter
with a real-life flipper. The design looks a little…
how can I put it… overly artistic? The proposed
buildings are colourful enough, but picture what a wall
might look like if you actually gave a dolphin a crayon
and told it to scribble something different with every
leap out of the water. Hmmm.
Anyway, apparently, works on the Dhs33 million "edutainment"
project are almost complete, and we can fully expect
to be swimming with the fishes (quite literally) by
the end of summer.
It's a great word, this newly fathomed "edutainment",
isn't it. Dubai is using it a lot lately - especially
to enhance the family values they hope will be associated
with the soon-to-open Dubai Mall, which will feature
SEGA Republic and Discovery Zone. Interestingly, the
new Atlantis Hotel is set to feature a dolphin attraction,
too - only they're not trying to bill it as "edutainment".
Are we to assume then, that any child who wakes up on
a Saturday and screams: "Mummy I want to play with
the dolphins NOW!" will be hauled to the Dolphinarium
as opposed to a luxury hotel on the Palm, in the name
of education?
It'll be interesting to see what happens there.
"This facility will include a water circus show,
dolphin therapy, dolphin sighting excursions, and lectures
among others," said Lootah - an official involved
in the new venture, set to span an impressive 4,900
metres. Visitors are expected to flock to watch live,
choreographed performances of dolphins and sea lions,
as well as to participate in various lectures and shows,
with the intention of introducing everybody to marine
life… in the desert.
Oh, the irony, I hear you cry. Well, we can't exactly
experience these magical creatures in the sea, when
we're building on top of it all the time, can we? But
fear not, Dubai Municipality is encouraging the Dolphinarium
because it's helping to preserve those species that
do exist in the Gulf… somewhere.
The best bit of course, is bound to be that personal
experience with Flipper. Guests will get a one-on-one
encounter for up to 30 minutes! We're assuming that's
whether the dolphins like it or not, but they're intelligent
creatures - we'd probably hear about it if they didn't.
"Desert-bound dolphin in angry protest" would
be a headline to remember, wouldn't it.
Posted: 15 May 2008
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