Decision Maker Response
Dr. Ir. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, M.Sc’s response
Jul 27, 2015 — Dear friends,
Thank you very much for your concerns and voices through this petition. Your support and reports help us in conserving the environment and protecting wildlife. Know that I have noticed this petition since the beginning, and following its updates.
Since receiving the petition, I have discussed this issue with my team. Several days ago, the petition was hand-delivered to me by our friends at Jakarta Animal Aid Network.
We are taking this report seriously and currently, investigating the situation. If in fact there are violations happening in the resort that are unlawful such as abuse, neglect, or not up to the standards of the regulations, rest assured we will take action.
Moreover, this has opened a public discourse about the existence of places with captive dolphins and other wildlife. I want to open up this dialogue to the public and the experts, and determine the best way forward, that is best for the environment, best for the animals, and best for the people.
In several weeks we are planning to have a round table discussion about the topic of captive dolphins, and we will invite experts in education, psychology, conservation, animal protection, civil society organizations, to talk openly to try to come up with a solution.
I will surely share the results of that discussion back to you.
Thank you for your attention.
Dr. Ir. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, M.Sc.
Minister of Environment and Forestry
Republik Indonesia