Statement by the Cayman Islands Government

Regarding the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter

The Cayman Islands Government places a high regard on maintaining the health and safety of visitors to our Island and to our tourist attractions and takes the allegations levied against the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter (CTF) by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) very seriously.

The CTF is the Islands largest land based tourist attraction, which welcomes more than 200,000 visitors each year and is an iconic aspect of the Cayman Islands tourism product. Like all tourism organisations in the Cayman Islands, the CTF is subject to regular inspections by Government entities, as well as independent external assessors, to ensure that it complies with health and safety regulations and provides a high quality and responsible tourism experience.

Prior to the claims by the WSPA, the Cayman Islands Government has never been confronted with allegations or claims of evidence of animal cruelty, nor has there been any suggestion whatsoever of risks to the health and safety of visitors who enjoy the attraction. In fact, in more than forty years of operating and having welcomed millions of visitors to the facility, there has not been a single reported case of ill health stemming from the farm.

Notwithstanding the preponderance of evidence to the contrary, the allegations by the WSPA are being taken seriously. Consequently, an independent body has been identified to conduct an audit of the farm operations and the welfare of the animals at the CTF in approximately 60 days.

As a society, the Cayman Islands does not condone or tolerate cruelty to, or the inhumane or improper treatment of any animal, particularly the sea turtle, which has been inextricably linked to the history and culture of these Islands for centuries. In addition to being depicted on the Cayman Islands flag and on local currency, its meat has remained an established part of the traditional Cayman Islands diet since the country’s discovery over 500 years ago.

The Cayman Turtle Farm was established in 1968 to facilitate the legal, commercial production of green sea turtle and the consumption of farm reared meat.

By calling for a cessation of commercial farming under the guise of concerns over animal welfare, it appears that the internationally-based WSPA is attempting to alter the culture of the Cayman Islands without understanding the history of this small country or its people. Moreover, their objective clearly disregards the important role the CTF plays in turtle conservation and they appear to be unconcerned about the ramifications that the cessation of commercial farming would have on turtle populations in the wild.

The Cayman Islands government is committed to ensuring that visitors to the CTF are provided with a high quality, enjoyable and responsible animal interaction experience and any proven concerns regarding human health and safety or animal welfare will be swiftly and effectively addressed.