URGENT - EMAIL LETTERS FOR LA PAZ DOLPHINS WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE NOW!

Eight bottlenose dolphins were captured several weeks ago so that tourists can swim with them, for a fee, in a captive "swim-with-the-dolphin" facility recently built at the La Concha Hotel in La Paz, Mexico.

Several dolphin professionals who have observed the facility first-hand have stated that it is the "worst" they have ever seen in any country and that the conditions for the dolphins are "deplorable" (for a digital photo showing person standing in approximately 40" of water next to the dolphin pens, go to http://www.sensormatrix.com/dolphinpendepth.jpg

Your letters may help to persuade the owner or the government to release them. Letters may also help the government to establish a policy preventing any future captures for additional facilities that are being planned.This situation presents a unique opportunity to make a difference. There is a new president and political administration in Mexico and this is a perfect platform from which you can express your views to the new officials.

We recommend writing on the following points:

1) First and foremost, any dolphins from the La Paz facility should be free and no others should be captured. This facility appears to be one of the worst, if not the worst, anywhere in the world. The water is so shallow that it is unlikely that dolphins would survive the heat in the summer.

The adjacent shipping lane for boats is acoustically hazardous for the dolphins, and the nearby sewage outflow is hygienically unacceptable. For these, and many other reasons, this facility is inhumane and the dolphins will certainly suffer excessively even if they can survive.

2) The deplorable conditions in this facility demonstrate that there is no justification for the capture of any dolphins in Mexico - for this or any facility. Legislation should be enacted as soon as possible to prevent the recurrence of this horrible situation elsewhere.

3) Captive dolphins will not increase tourism but will decrease tourism and may lead to a boycott. People are increasingly becoming aware that keeping dolphins in captivity is irresponsible and environmentally insensitive. This facility is a perfect example of this.

4) Scientific papers have demonstrated that "dolphin-assisted therapy" and "swim-with-the-dolphin" programs present great risks to the people as well as dolphins. It is not uncommon for people to become seriously injured from swimming with captive dolphins. And recent research has indicated that "dolphin-assisted therapy" is not as effective as was once believed and it is quickly becoming known as a method of taking advantage of ill people and their families.

Please write one letter sent by email addressed to all of the following people.

Please send letters by email so that they are received immediately (but please also consider sending your letters by mail so that they make a more significant impact).

Mr. Ricardo Perez, Owner, Hotel La Concha Beach Resort Email: laconcha@juno.com U.S. FAX: 619-294-7366 Mail: Km. 5, Carretera a Pichilingue La Paz, B.C.S., C.P. 23010

And

SEMARNAT- Secretaria del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales Lic. Victor Lichtinger Secretario particular: Mario Bañuelos and Secretaria: Lourdes Castillo Email: vlichtinger@semarnat.gob.mx FAX: International code 011, then (52) 5628 0643 Address: Periferico Sur 4209 Col. Jardines en la Montaña Tlalpan 14210 Mexico DF Mexico

If possible, it would also be helpful to copy your letters to the Secretary of Tourism (especially if you mention a tourist boycott) - However, no email is currently available:

SECTUR Secretaria de Turismo, Lic. Leticia Navarro FAX: International Code : 011, then (52) 52 50 44 06 Mail: Presidente Masaryk 172 Col. Chapultepec Morales 11587 Mexico D.F. Mexico