200 WILD DOLPHINS CAPTURED IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS JULY 2003
Stop the international commercial trade on dolphins!!!
28 DOLPHINS IMPORTED INTO PARQUE NIZUC IN CANCUN, MEXICO
FROM MARK BERMAN, EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE:
Ben White reports that the dolphins are in 4 pens . at least 2
were seen
hauled away dead. others are logging on surface facing west and
not
eating. Ben heard them scream at least 200 feet away. they were
brought in small metal boxes with a sling but no water appeared
in
the box. The boxes had to be dragged across the sand . It is a
true horror and nightmare on site.
FROM BEN WHITE, ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE:
I witnessed on July 26 the hauling off the pier of what appeared
to be two dead dolphins. I filmed the event from the park side-
employees wrestling with the big litters surrounded with blue
tarps. These things were so heavy that when they reached the sand
from the pier, they couldn't budge the things for a while. I tried
to get close enough to film what was obscured by the tarps but
the shooed me away- very uptight and nervous. We got close enough
to see inside and each contained one dolphin- but the pictures
we shot were inconclusive. We announced to the press the next
day that two dolphins had died and been hauled away. Of course
the park denied it. As we all know, Shamu is eternal and these
magical creatures just waiting to do a! dorsal pull with you and
your family never die.
Here's some facts on the capture:
These dolphins were inhumanely captured off the Solomon Islands
. According to British High Commissioner in the Solomon's at least
seven dolphins have died as part of this ONGOING capture. Dolphins
are caught by fishermen, flopped in the bottom of an open boat
and then taken- dry and gasping- often over an hour to the holding
pens.
There was no determination prior to export that there would be
no detriment to local populations subjected to "so remorseless
a havoc". There cannot be such a determination because, according
to Solomon's officials, no study has been done on wild populations.
This event is so brutal it is hard to ignore. Please keep the
pressure on the Australian government to intercede NOW to stop
further captures and allow the rehab and release of the survivors.
The dolphins now in Mexico must be returned to their home waters
off the Solomon Islands at the expense of the Parque Nizuc.
Solomon Island Dolphin Capture Synopsis, July, 2003
Courtesy Julie Woodyer, Zoocheck Canada
" Solomon Islands is a chain of 1000 islands 1,800 KM north
of Australia, became independent in 1978.
" Civil war between 2 major islands in 1999 - 2000 which
led to collapse of police force and most organizations of state.
" 5 years of violence and economic collapse have paralyzed
much of the administration. Government unable to control warlords
and armed gangs.
" Australia and new Zealand sending in troops to try to intervene
and restore order.
" Solomon Islands not signed on to CITES.
" In the past Solomon Island residents considered dolphins
a cherished part of Solomon Island cultural Heritage.
" Foreign Business Group consisting of Canadians, Mexicans
and Germans took advantage of political upheaval in the Solomons
to capture dolphins for the captivity industry.
" Canadian Christopher Porter of Wave Consultants is at the
centre of the scheme - wife is Solomon Islander - He went to the
island under the pretence that he was going to educate fishermen
about unnecessary killing of dolphins and create a resort to boost
tourism - No resort was created, only the 6 dolphin pens. Porter's
accountant, Greg Thompson said the company has government approval
from the fisheries department.
" Potential buyers: Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Italy
" Market value of captive dolphins estimated at $25,000 -
$30,000 USD
" Dolphins captured by villagers who were paid $400 Solomon
Island dollars ($260 US)
" Capture method: Rounded up, netted in crude fishing nets,
dragged out and dumped into open boats then transported to Gela
approx. 2 1/2 hours boat ride
" As many as 200 dolphins captured - largest recorded capture.
" Scientific note: too many taken, may damage gene pool.
" Solomon sea pens holding dolphins are 3 feet deep, 30 metres
by 40 metres, guarded by armed militia. Fencing constructed of
wire, rope and mango tree posts.
" Local fishermen being paid well to get fish for food for
captive dolphins, using dynamite to catch fish.
" Solomon cops arrested and harassed media trying to film
the captured dolphins, one cameraman kicked.
" New Zealand TV crew boat driver was beaten for 5 minutes,
there was blood coming out if his mouth - He was hired to enable
the TV crew to film the captive dolphins in pens.
" 1 dolphin who was being trained was killed by a crocodile,
3 others also died in Solomon pens
" Permit for 33 dolphins to go to Mexico was negotiated with
Solomons Department of Fisheries on or around July 6th, 2003.
" Mexico is a CITES signatory.
" Mexico no longer allows captures in their waters, but allows
"humane" imports.
" Mexico claims they have no proof the capture was not humane.
" Mexican Co. that purchased dolphins: Parque Nizuc, Manager
Mr. Mauricio Martinez de Alba.
" Potentially a Canadian Co. was hired to transport the dolphins.
" Honiara Airport locked down so no one can film the plane
or loading of dolphins.
" Shipped 28 dolphins (13 female and 15 males) to Cancun
Aquatic Park - unsure if 33 were shipped per info from permit,
possibly 5 died on route
" Transported via Brazil Air Cargo on a DC 10 to Mexico stopping
in Brazil
" Heavy security of police and military in Mexico escorting
animals to Parque Nizuc
" Dolphins shipped in "coffin like" containers,
described by Ben White on site in Mexico, as metal boxes without
water visible (Canadian National Post article indicated that the
crates had "small pools of water"), dolphins in slings
" At least 2 died in Mexico, as observed by Ben White, others
appear lethargic
