DOLPHINS LEFT TO DIE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF GUATEMALA

Your help is needed immediately.

Two dolphins have been abandoned in a small tank in the mountains of Santa Lucia, Guatemala. They were left behind by Ricardo and Ruben Roca (father and son) of the infamous traveling dolphin show "Water Land" when the authorities closed in on them for not being able to provide legal documents for the dolphins.

The holding tank in Guatemala was built over a year ago and serves as Water Land's training camp for dolphins. The tank, which measures just 8 meters in diameters and is 4 meters deep, has been crudely made by digging a hole in the ground, lining the hole with a water proof fabric and then filling it with city water, chlorine, and salt. A three-foot cement wall has been built around it.

To view a photo of the dolphin tank, go to this web page: http://www.dolphinproject.org/subdetail.cfm?menu_id=13&submenu_id=107

Originally four dolphins were kept here. Since January 2001 MadreSelva has made several attempts at getting The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) to react to the dolphins' life-threatening living conditions. Regrettably, Ruben and Ricardo Roca succeeded in exporting two of the dolphins to the amusement park "Diver Land" of the island of Margarita in Venezuela on February 3, 2001. The two remaining dolphins are a male and a female by the names of Turbo and Ariel. They supposedly swam free in the waters off Guatemala just 14 months ago. In Guatemala, they were undergoing training to be used in a dolphin-assisted therapy program at "Diver Land."

The tank that Turbo and Ariel have lived in for several months has no proper filtration system. Ruben and Ricardo Roca simply left them behind to perish in a cesspool, with nothing to eat and no one to care for them. The dolphins spent five days without food.

MadreSelva and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) have worked to stabilize the situation, feeding the hungry dolphins fresh fish and making sure the filthy water was replaced with clean water and bags of salt. Juan Carlos Murillo -- veterinarian for WSPA -- has remained on-site to monitor the dolphins.

Turbo and Ariel have been temporarily confiscated by CONAP until a judge decides what is going to happen to them. The judge can either send the dolphins back to Water Land or another captivity facility, or he can let them return to the sea.

Ruben Roca is doing all he can to get the dolphins back and has sent undercover representatives to the site to regain ownership over them. In addition, an increasing number of individuals and associations are trying to convince the authorities that Turbo and Ariel must remain in captivity for the rest of their lives. This includes local zoos; several circuses, autistic children's therapists, and the captive dolphin swim program "Anthony Key's Resort" of Honduras. We have good reason to believe that "Anthony Key's Resort," if the facility succeeds in persuading the judge into giving them the dolphins, will simply hand them over to Ruben Roca.

MadreSelva is asking for your help in their efforts to rescue and release Turbo and Ariel. There is no time to waste. We have received news that a decision will be made in the afternoon of Tuesday June 12. Send letters immediately, kindly urging the judge and the President to not send the dolphins back to Water Land or any other captivity facility. Ask them to let Turbo and Ariel be returned to the sea. Please add these Spanish words at the top of your letters: LIBEREN A LOS DELFINES.

There are no email addresses available for the judge and President. Therefore, send your letters to Magali Rey Rosa of MadreSelva, and she will personally hand them over to both the judge and the President tomorrow. Magali Rey Rosa's email address is: lamaga@intelnet.net.gt

You can also choose to simply sign your name to the Spanish letters below (written by Magali Rey Rosa.) One is for the judge; the other is for the President. And again, please email the letters to Magali Rey Rosa at lamaga@intelnet.net.gt Please respond to this action alert. Turbo and Ariel are suffering tremendously. Thank you for your help.

Helene O'Barry The Dolphin Project wspa@bellsouth.net

Excelentísimo Señor Presidente Licenciado Alfonso Portillo República de Guatemala

Nos dirigimos a usted, profundamente preocupados por la suerte que pueden correr dos delfines que se encuentran cautivos en algún lugar en las montañas de Guatemala. Nos hemos enterado de que estos delfines les fueron confiscados a la familia Roca, gente que se dedica al tráfico ilegal de vida silvestre. "Mundo Marino", el negocio de la familia Roca goza internacionalmente de la fama de ser el show itinerante más cruel e infame del mundo, seguramente por eso dejaron a los animales en tan mal estado.. También nos hemos enterado de que, en estos momentos, la suerte de los delfines está en manos de funcionarios de su gobierno; y es por eso que apelamos a usted, para que interceda por la suerte de estos delfines, y que éstos sean devueltos al mar, que es donde pertenecen. Por favor ¡LIBEREN A LOS DELFINES!

Atentamente,

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Licenciado Wilfredo Porres Juez de Primera Instancia de Narcoactividad y delitos contra el Ambiente Sacatepéquez, Guatemala

Excelentísimo Señor Juez: Nos dirigimos a usted, por el caso de los dos delfines que fueron confiscados a los traficantes de animales. Estamos apelando a su sensibilidad, para que considere que -en este caso- la evidencia decomisada a los ilegales no son armas, autos o drogas. Son seres vivos, que han estado y están sometidos a niveles altos de sufrimiento. De la decisión que usted tome, dependerá que estos dos delfines puedan recobrar su libertad, o que se les condene a vivir para siempre como esclavos e incluso que mueran pronto.Los ojos de mucha gente alrededor del mundo, que amamos a los animales, estarán puestos en usted. Confiamos en que tendrá la sabiduría para tomar la decisión correcta. Por favor: LIBEREN A LOS DELFINES

Atentamente,