Call to bury Shona in Bay

RACHEL PINDER
Haumoana resident Tim Moseley is calling for a memorial to Shona the dolphin - so she can be remembered by Hawke's Bay people for years to come.
Mr Moseley made regular visits to Marineland after bringing his 10-year-old goddaughter to the Marine Parade attraction last month, where he bought her a swim with the dolphins as a birthday treat.
But he noticed it was the first day that Shona's behaviour started to cause concern when she refused to eat.
He visited her during his lunch hour several times after that, with the last time on Wednesday, just two days before she passed away.
"It is clear that Marineland is an iconic institution and holds a very special place in the hearts of Hawke's Bay people.
"I know there is a lot of debate about what the future holds for Marineland, the animals and the wonderful staff, and that there will undoubtedly be a great deal more talk before their fate is decided.
"I understand that Gary Macdonald was not expecting Shona to return after sending her body to Massey University.
"I think this is horrendous and I know it must be a Department of Conservation decision and not one by Marineland.
"The people at Opononi buried their famous adopted dolphin Opo and erected a memorial. The fate that seems to await Shona is that her remains will be carved up and pickled in specimen jars to be gawped at by vet students.
"This much loved, beautiful animal has been a part of Hawke's Bay life for more than 30 years, has given pleasure to millions of people and more than earned her keep by bringing revenue to Napier.
"To put pieces of her in a jar or throw her body into an incinerator is grotesque - the old girl deserves better. Shona should be brought back here to the community she gave so much too and given a decent burial and an appropriate send-off by those who knew and loved her.
"When the inevitable happens and Kelly dies too, wouldn't it be right and proper to have some form of public memorial to these exceptional animals? I'm sure all Hawke's Bay people would support such an idea.
"Surely there must be some way of exerting some pressure on those in control ... and get Shona buried here," he said. Mayor Barbara Arnott said Shona's body was at Massey University undergoing an autopsy.
"It is a requirement of the Department of Conservation that she is used for research. So there will be no burial as there will be no body to bury.
"There will be no public memorial to Shona. But if people want to show their respect or condolences in some way that would be up to them."
Marineland manager Gary Macdonald said he had thought a lot about having a memorial for Shona but he feels it would be inappropriate.
"One day the time will come when Kelly is not around any more either. Shona and Kelly were such a team and they worked together for 33 years at Marineland so any memorial would have to be for Shona and Kelly together," he said.