http://www.granma.cu/ingles/cuba-i/16julio-fidel.html
Havana. July 16, 2010
.and Fidel appears at the Aquarium
. "The world is living between two tragedies: war and the environment"
(Taken from CubaDebate)
IT was just half an hour before midday on July 15 when, to everyone's surprise,
Fidel arrived at the entrance to the National Aquarium, dressed in a cool
checked shirt, track suit bottoms, and running shoes, and immediately absorbed
himself in a brief chat with two little girls and a small group of workers at
the entrance.
Fidel with the young dolphin trainers.
Fidel talking with girls visiting
the Aquarium.
After a protocol-free welcome, Guillermo García, director of the institution,
introduced him to members of his management team, of which the majority are
women. "It's very good working with women," he commented to the leader of the
Revolution, who in turn responded, "and much more secure."
After looking over, with visible joy, photos and mementos from the Aquarium's
renovation in 2002 and greeting a large number of workers, including the
veterinary doctor, Celia Guevara March - Che's daughter - with whom he had a
warm conversation to ask after her family, Fidel was invited to attend the
dolphin's underwater show, the only one of its kind in the world.
Three female dolphins - aged around seven years - are the stars of an exciting
show that is tremendously appealing even before it begins, when the trainers
begin their communication with the animals from the side of the pool that
contains 500 cubic meters of water and is visible through a wide acrylic window
of seven and half meters in height, 14 meters in width and 22 centimeters
thick.
The Aquarium's director explained to Fidel that, unlike shows above the water
which include frequent pauses to reward the animals' performance with
comestible treats, the only stimulus in this show is the communication between
the two parties, which happens before the performance begins.
The impressive display - lasting approximately 20 minutes - began at 11.47 a.m.
During it three dolphins and their trainers (two young women and one young man)
intertwined and danced with each other, propelled from their feet by the
dolphins, whose average weight is 150 kilos.
Visibly impressed, Fidel made frequent comments and asked his hosts questions.
The first regarding the time the trainers spent underwater without coming up
for air - about 1-1.5 minutes, with intervals of 30-40 seconds, making it a
very difficult exercise.
The show - which the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association has
certified as the only one of its kind on the planet - has eight different
trainers who have learned their skills entirely at the Cuban aquarium and who
alternate in performances.
The summer performances of this exclusive show go on until late - from 5:00
p.m. until 10:00 p.m. - and include early-morning shows specifically for
children suffering from xeroderma pigmentosum, a skin condition which excludes
their exposure to sunlight.
Fidel also expressed interest in the relationship between the trainers and
their animals and the possible risks of attack. They explained to him that such
occurrences are extremely rare and solely caused by human error, because
dolphins are very sociable creatures who live, on average, for 25 years or up
to double that in captivity.
With the help of the trainers on the other side of the window, the beautiful
dolphins greeted Fidel several times, creating rings of bubbles and doing
headstands. They then explained that the "sonar" of these particular animals
and the kilometers that they can cover is like a kind of ultrasound and has
resulted in them being used to detect mines or in other military activities.
Commenting on other details, García said that they had received visits from
trainers from various countries, including some from the U.S. who acknowledged
that there is no show of this kind in the whole of the United States or
anywhere else in the world.
Recalling the profound damage to the ecosystem caused by ocean spills, which
has affected these and other species, Fidel lamented: "It would seem that
dolphins can't escape these either." His observation was supported by
information provided by the Aquarium director, who mentioned reports of
200-plus dolphins and close to 550 turtles having died as a result of the oil
spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
"There are two tremendous dangers: the danger of war and the danger facing the
environment," warned Fidel, who also lamented that this should be occurring
despite the extraordinary accumulation of knowledge that has been produced over
the past 60 years, a period in which all knowledge has tripled.
He also announced that he is preparing a Reflection tackling these issues, and
once again reiterated his warning that "the world is living between two
tragedies, that of war and that of the environment."
After having his photo taken with the trainers and the Aquarium collective,
Fidel explained that the reason for his first questions in relation to the time
that the trainers spend underwater came from his experience as a legendary
scuba diver: "I know what it's like to hold your breath, and breathe with and
without an aqualung."
When asked by the director, he said that he had managed to hold his breath for
over two minutes on several occasions, but without making any movement
whatsoever. "I can appreciate what they are doing, what is apnea and what it
means to do it over and over again." He also recalled, with particular emotion,
having frequently shared his swims with dolphins in Naranjo Bay in Banes, now
in Holguín province.
When it was time to say farewell, he asked what days the shows took place at
the Aquarium - from Tuesday to Sunday until 10:00 p.m. and a rest day on
Mondays - and the work schedules and days off for the whole collective,
particularly the members who perform with the dolphins three times a day, under
the advice of doctors from the sub-aquatic medicine department at the Naval
Hospital in the case of the underwater show, given that the primary risk is
repetition of apnea.
Summing up his impressions of the visit, Fidel described the show that he
watched as "something very tranquil, more beautiful than anything I have ever
seen. If one wanted a gift for someone that would make them feel really
special, then this is it."
On his way out, virtually the entire staff of the Aquarium and dozens of
visitors gathered nearby in order to cheer and applaud the leader of the
Revolution.
The National Aquarium of Cuba, founded 50 years ago on January 23, 1960 has a
collection of more than 3,000 animals, 23 of them marine mammals - eight
dolphins and 15 sea lions - which are the principal attraction of the facility,
which receives approximately 3,000 visitors per day and between 25,000 and
30,000 tourists per year.
Translated by Granma International
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