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 | Monday, April 17, 2000, updated at 13:25(GMT+8) | ||||||||||||
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Beijing Aquarium, US Lompoc Argue Over DolphinsYoung and playful, 11-foot (3.3-meter)-long whales splash around a tank at the Beijing Aquarium, pressing their noses to a glass wall to peer out at crowds of giggling children, according to a report of China Daily on April 17..Both sides are serenely unaware of the legal battle raging around them. Highlighting the pitfalls of cross-cultural business deals, the whales and their neighbors, the dolphins and sea lions, are the focus of a squabble between the 13-month-old aquarium and the American firm hired to supply and care for them. JV China Inc. of Lompoc, California, complains it hasn't been paid in nearly a year. The two sides have traded accusations of mismanagement, breech of contract and endangering the sea mammals that are the crown jewel of a prestige project in Beijing. The dlrs 85 million aquarium is on the grounds of the Beijing Zoo and is owned by the zoo and private Chinese investors. Desmond's company provided the animals under a six-year, dlrs 11 million contract. It also was to run daily dolphin and sea lion shows and teach the Chinese staff how to care for the creatures. JV China brought in eight false killer whales, eight bottlenose dolphins, 10 sea lions and eight South American sea lions. Desmond, whose firm worked on the movie "Free Willy" and has consulted for aquariums in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Asia, speaks highly of Beijing Zoo officials and their concern for animal welfare. The facility debuted in a crowded aquarium market in Beijing, which already has two smaller aquariums. Tickets also are beyond the reach of many families at 80 yuan (dlrs 10) for adults, limiting the pool of potential visitors. Desmond said the legal trouble began in February when the Americans suspended the dolphin and sea lion shows for lack of payment, though they still look after the animals. He said the aquarium responded by trying to cancel JV China's contract and force it to sell its animals. The company accused the aquarium of failing to maintain a safe home for the animals. It said broken gates had dangerous sharp edges and claimed the aquarium refused to supply chlorine for the water, causing a health threat. Li Junmei, secretary of the board of the aquarium company, Beijing Lida Aquarium Ltd., declined to discuss financial details of the dispute. But in a written reply to questions, she denied the aquarium had failed to provide chlorine or do adequate maintenance. In the interests of the animals' well-being, the two sides agreed to keep the Americans on hand long enough to complete training for the Chinese staff, Desmond said. He said the whales especially need close attention, and the six whales here are the biggest grouping of that species in captivity. The financial terms are under negotiation. Despite legal bills that Desmond estimated at about dlrs 100,000, he said the firm hasn't lost interest in finding work with other Chinese aquariums.
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