Atlantis has done the right thing

After 18 months swimming in circles in a large pool at Atlantis, Sammy the whale shark is set to be free.

And about time.

Ever since the hotel on Palm Jumeirah opened, the presence of Sammy in the lavish aquarium has been a lightning rod for controversy. One of a vulnerable species, Sammy was taken from the freedom of the ocean and confined to the large pool — the centrepiece of the Atlantis foyer.

A concerted campaign by Gulf News and its readers brought pressure to bear on the management and ownership of the facility.

Now, 18 months on, that campaign has resulted in the rightful decision to release the mammal back into her natural surroundings — the deep blue sea.

The management at Altlantis, however, must be given credit for their undertaking made over a year ago that Sammy would be released back into her natural habitat.

But one question remains: What took so long?