Dolphins trapped in their pens in the Solomon Islands. Copyright: WSPA.

On July 8th, the owners of Parque Nizuc in Cancun, Mexico, quietly relocated 15 of the dolphins imported under questionable circumstances from the Solomon Islands in July 2003. The dolphins were transferred to a new marine park on the island of Cozumel without the permission of the Mexican authorities and despite the fact that legal action is still pending regarding the original import of these dolphins.

This is the second time in less than a year that Parque Nizuc has violated Mexican law with regard to the Solomon Island dolphins, yet the government continues to look the other way. Advocates are urging the Mexican government to immediately intervene on behalf of the dolphins by stripping Parque Nizuc of custody of the dolphins and returning these marine mammals to their native waters.

Mexico's Subsecretary, Francisco Giner de los Rios, dismisses any plans for release, saying, "We have been told by several national and international experts that the repatriation of the dolphins would cause enormous stress on them, and that after a year in captivity it is doubtful that they would ever be able to survive in the wild." However, there is much evidence to disprove the assertions being made by the Mexican government; WSPA itself has been involved in successful rescue and release operations with animals that had been captive for extended periods of time. In addition, WSPA has questions about the impartiality of the "national and international experts" queried by the Mexican government and any possible ties these people might have to the captivity industry.

	Solomon Island dolphins being loaded onto cargo plan bound for Mexico. Copyright: AFP Photo Torsten BLACKWOOD

Park Nizuc originally imported the 28 dolphins from the Solomon Islands, which were part of a large-scale operation to round up as many dolphins as possible for sale to the captivity industry. Questions regarding the legality of this import arose immediately along with concerns about the risk of diseases being spread from the Solomon Island dolphins to the native marine environment. Since their arrival at Parque Nizuc, at least three of the dolphins and two calves born to the group have died.

Mexican officials refuse to enforce their own laws and continue to allow Parque Nizuc to go unchecked in its handling of these dolphins. Your letters are needed to show the Mexican government that the international community will not tolerate further abuse of the Solomon Island dolphins.