Star power boosts surfer’s campaign to free Bali dolphins

A SYDNEY surfer’s campaign to rescue dolphins housed in tiny hotel pools in Bali has caught the attention of a host of celebrities, moved by the animals’ sad existence.

THE campaign to save up to eight dolphins confined to tiny hotel pools in Bali has gone viral with more than a quarter of a million people signing an online petition.

Among those seeking to have the dolphins released and rehabilitated are surfing legend Kelly Slater, actors Adrian Grenier and Erica Durance, singers Leona Lewis and Guy Sebastian, and model Sheridyn Fisher.

With their support, the petition is now close to reaching 300,000 signatures — to the delight of the man who got the ball rolling, Sydney surfer Craig Brokensha.

He created the petition at change.org — as revealed by News Corp a fortnight ago — after discovering four dolphins in a chlorinated pool at Wake Bali Dolphins near Kuta.

Another Bali hotel, the Melka Excelsior Dolphin and Wildlife Resort has a similar attraction, charging tourists $125 for a “dolphin experience”.

Saw an image of 4 dolphins being kept in a tiny pool in Bali. So upsetting pic.twitter.com/1U8ToY9b4w

— Leona Lewis (@leonalewis) July 13, 2015

there's a petition to save them here https://t.co/WWdoCyKRMy

— Leona Lewis (@leonalewis) July 13, 2015

Both hotels insist they have authorisation to keep the dolphins, and say Indonesian government officials have inspected and approved their enclosures.

Mr Brokensha said he was also lobbying Indonesia’s Environment Minister who was “well aware of the momentum that’s building”.

“It’s been amazing since News Corp Australia published the story, it’s been gathering speed,” he said.

“Some celebrities have got on board, and it’s gone everywhere.

“You can’t ignore 300,000 signatures.”

#Repost @alexatowersey ・・・ #Repost @siobhanparekh 🐬 I'm a huge animal lover and this brought tears… https://t.co/Jl709b9OKV

— Guy Sebastian (@GuySebastian) July 16, 2015

Online booking systems for both resorts had been crashed by the number of people seeking to make complaints about their treatment of dolphins, Mr Brokensha said.

“What’s really driven the message home is a video that was shot showing the dolphins almost lifeless in the pool (at Wake Bali Dolphins),” he said.

“The girl who shot the footage kind of snuck in, and she said they were basically crying when she was next to them.”

Wake Bali Dolphins: Free four wild dolphins contained in a tiny resort pool http://t.co/r6xhnxKTQZ via @ChangeAUS

— Erica Durance (@ED_DURANCE) July 9, 2015

In the wild, dolphins swim around 160km a day whereas the hotel pools measure just 10m by 20m.

Twice a day, guests pay around $15 to watch them perform a series of jumps in a “show”, and tourists can swim with the dolphins for $125.

Mr Brokensha said a similar dolphin facility was closed down two years ago by Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Zulkifli Hasan, who pledged to close any other dolphin attraction sites.

#Repost @sheridynfisher ・・・ PLEASE HELP AND SHARE! This is a picture of two of the four Dolphins… https://t.co/GhVr2W3ASI

— Meghan Hufty (@SeaSaltJewelry) July 16, 2015

“We are hoping to set up a meeting in the near future,” Mr Brokensha said.

In the meantime, he and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals spokeswoman Claire Fryer have urged Australian holiday-makers to avoid the two resorts.