Another international organisation, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has also written to the state chief minister, urging him to stop ''the ill-conceived and reckless plan'' of building a marine park in Sindhudurg.

''The proposal for a marine park in Sindhudurg flies in the face of growing worldwide condemnation of confining wild animals or otherwise using them for human diversion,'' wrote PETA. ''As people around the world learn more about the miserable lives of animals in oceanariums and other captive environments, they are staying away. We respectfully ask that you give serious consideration to immediately reversing the decisions that have led to this development being launched.''