Breaking News: Following the death of a fourth dolphin at the Dolphin Learning Center in La Paz, Mexican authorities have ordered the removal of the final three dolphins being held at the park to a nearby dolphinarium. The deaths have been attributed to a combination of stress, lowered immune response and polluted water. While relieved that these three dolphins are being freed from the polluted tanks that have claimed the lives of four of their companions, WSPA fears that the government's decision to relocate the dolphins to another marine park has effectively dashed any hopes for future rehabilitation and release of the dolphins. WSPA will continue to monitor this situation closely. Please check back frequently for updates on the La Paz dolphins.

	Photo: Helene O'Barry

La Paz was hit by two fierce hurricanes this season, Ignacio and Marty. With plenty of advance warning, the residents of La Paz were able to prepare their homes for the onslaught and in many cases, to move out of harm's way. The dolphins held captive at FINS, a swim-with-dolphins facility at La Paz, had no such advantage. There was no talk of their evacuation, no contingency plans for relocating them if their enclosures were damaged or their water compromised by the storms. The dolphins were left to face the storm alone, powerless against the surging tides and pummeled by the waves, trapped within the confines of their sea pens.

Though there was no visible damage to the sea pens in the wake of the hurricanes, it soon became apparent that the storms had wreaked their havoc in other, more ominous ways. Javier Ahedo, the dolphins' trainer said that the deaths "were the result of high levels of contamination due to the large amount of trash and debris washed down by hurricanes, along with over flowing of the city's waste treatment plants. The amount of trash that came down on the dolphins' pen is unbelievable. The waves caused by hurricane Marty went over the fences and deposited lots of debris in them." (Gringo Gazette, 2003)

Quinta, the 20-year-old alpha male, was the first dolphin to die. Upon autopsy, a foreign object, apparently washed into the pen during one of the storms, had become lodged in his esophagus. Concha, the 19-year-old female and Quinta's mate, died the very next day of liver complications. She was six months pregnant with Quinta's baby at the time of her death. The third death, also attributed to the contaminated water, was that of a young male dolphin named Ricky. All of these deaths were preventable.

Reputable captive marine mammal facilities have emergency evacuation plans in place so that animals can be protected from harm during storms and other disasters. Dolphins in tanks may be relocated to an indoor swimming pool and dolphins held in sea pens are typically released so that they can brave the storm as nature intended. Sadly, the facility at La Paz had no such plans in place to protect their dolphins.

Authorities at the Semarnat, the ministry of environment, and Profepa, the federal government's environmental wing, are closely monitoring the investigation into these dolphin deaths and have taken samples of the dolphins' tissue for testing.

The Mexican government prohibited the capture of dolphins in Mexican waters following the questionable capture and transport of the original La Paz dolphins in 2000. The center at FINS was effectively shut down as a result of the controversy, however, Javier Ahedo and his family continue to allow visitors to swim with their dolphins for a "donation".

WSPA first broke the story of the La Paz dolphins in December 2000, following the capture and subsequent death of 'Luna,' one of the eight captured dolphins. Luna's autopsy revealed that she died of liver problems brought on by the stress of her capture and transport to La Paz. Now, just a few short years later, three more dolphins are dead. Only half of the original dolphins remain. How many dolphins must die before the authorities take notice? WSPA will not forget about the La Paz dolphins. Please check back often for updates.