Marineland seeks new opportunities with death of dolphin

[Bruce McKinlay]

Marineland staff are training sea lions and seals in the hope that shows will go on after the death of their star attraction, Kelly the dolphin.

The long-running Napier tourist attraction has been closed to the public since Kelly's death last week, but staff are hoping the city council will reopen it.

Full story here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4693879a7693.html

[Dave Houston]

In a follow-up article Marineland's manager Gary Macdonald talks about the possibility of replacing dolphins with penguins,  noting that ten of the world's 18 penguin species are found in or near New Zealand.

"To have the birds visible through underwater windows as well as above ground in modern, well-designed displays would be a major plus. Visitors could also swim with the penguins."

My major cringe spasm was partly relieved by Colin Miskelly's reply that Conservation Department conservation policy generally prevented zoos from keeping native birds for display and would probably not allow Marineland to display New Zealand species such as yellow-eyed penguins or any of the crested penguins.