FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2003

Vancouver Aquarium former dolphin trainer captures 200 dolphins off Solomon Islands

Last month, Williams Lake (British Columbia, Canada) born Christopher Porter shocked the world when he captured 200 wild dolphins from the waters off the Solomon Islands, the largest ever recorded dolphin capture for the marine park industry.

Porter, a former employee of the Vancouver Aquarium, has already sold and shipped 28 of the dolphins to Parque Nizuc in Cancun, Mexico.

Porter is a member of the International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA). Before becoming a dolphin dealer, Porter worked at the Vancouver Aquarium (1994 -1998) as the head trainer of performing whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions.

Porter was involved in capturing and training wild sea lion pups for the Vancouver Aquarium's public displays. Since 1994, the aquarium has captured more than 20 sea lion pups off the B.C. coast. The most recent capture took place on July 28, 2003.

Vancouver Aquarium president John Nightingale and vice president Clint Wright are listed as this dolphin dealer's professional references (see enclosed resume).

The Coalition For No Whales In Captivity is extremely concerned with the fate of the Solomon Islands' dolphins and we are appealing to John Nightingale and Clint Wright, who obviously have a personal relationship with the dolphin dealer, to use their influence and urge Chris Porter to stop selling dolphins and to release the surviving ones back into the wild.

For more information contact:

Annelise Sorg Tel (604) 736-9514
Coalition For No Whales In Captivity
Box 461-1755 Robson Street
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6G 3B7
Tel (604) 736-9514
cfnwic@whaleprotection.org
www.whaleprotection.org