It said people were splashing out on entertainment and leisure but this was offset by cutbacks in some essential spending.

The engine of the boat has been cut so now it's mostly silent – that is, apart from the intermittent splashing coming from inside the trap.

Noni loved playing with bubbles and splashing around in water, and zookeepers often joked about needing to get her a hot tub for her habitat, officials said.

It is why splashing it for 'sportswashing' purposes, according to some critics, seems so worthwhile to the Saudis.

“It’s so simple, just splashing about in the water, playing with the waves pushing against you, he just loves that and he loves you to be there with him.”