Detroit Free Press - Editorials July 28, 2003

Dolphins for Fun?: Rules on importing wild animals need tightening

Having dolphins flown from one side of the Pacific Ocean to the other for human amusement is not an amusing notion. The international agreements that govern this sort of animal traffic clearly need more work.

The latest and perhaps biggest-ever dolphin shipment took place last week, when at least 28 dolphins were taken by plane to a Cancun water park that charges $86 to visitors who want to swim with them. Mexico does not allow dolphin capture in its own waters; these animals came from the Solomon Islands, about 800 miles northeast of Australia, a place in near anarchy with a lot more to worry about than its wildlife.

Unfortunately, U.S. rules for wild animal imports don't differ much from Mexico's; the same thing could happen here.
Countries and treaties must make explicit that banning animal capture at home goes hand-in-hand with not accepting them from abroad. For now, though, the only way to protect dolphins is to shun places that offer them up for "fun." Don't let your dollars feed the frenzy for putting dolphins on airplanes.