CITES Secretariat Begins Investigation

Fears are growing for the fate of dozens of dolphins, perhaps more than 170, captured from waters surrounding the Solomon Islands in recent weeks. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is repeating its calls for authorities to intervene, prevent any additional captures and return the animals to the wild. Despite public protests, international media scrutiny and the highly questionable legality of the captures and subsequent trade, eight more dolphins were taken from local waters this week.

	Up to 200 dolphins have been captured by local fishermen

The newly-captured dolphins were crammed in with the others in shallow sea pens. Resources are woefully inadequate; food is scarce; and locals have reported scratches and blisters on the mammals, caused as a result of the dolphins being unable to dive deep enough to avoid the sun's rays.

Several dolphins have already died, including one female that perished on Monday after being shipped out to a Mexican amusement park along with 27 others. Instead of being quarantined in a separate holding tank, the 28 dolphins were unloaded directly into a sea pen, where they are in contact with 15 other dolphins of a separate species and countless other forms of marine life. Three other of the newly-arrived dolphins at this facility are reported to be ill, causing Mexican experts to voice their concern that this non-native species could be introducing a new disease to the dolphins confined in close proximity and into Mexican waters.

The makeshift pens the dolphins have been / are living in.

Although the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Secretariat in Geneva has now confirmed that it advised Mexico to allow the import of 120 bottlenose dolphins from the Solomon Islands, subject to certain requirements, it is now investigating whether this criteria was met after WSPA exposed the trade as unlawful. If the operation is found to be in violation of CITES requirements, the Secretariat has stated that it will not hesitate to recommend rejection of export permits issued by the Solomon Islands.

"To date, an illegally traded dolphin has died, as have four others that were incarcerated in pens in the Solomon Islands. Many of those still alive are in poor health, yet the capture of dolphins under highly questionable circumstances continues," said Leah Garces, WSPA's Head of Campaigns. "Time is running out for these dolphins. They are intelligent, sentient beings and should not be bought and sold like inanimate objects. How many more will die before the government takes action?"

	The dolphins being loaded onto the Brazilian plane bound for Cancun. APF Photo's:T Blackwood

Marine mammal population specialists and dolphin advocates were shocked to learn that the number of dolphins taken for this operation alone is a fifth of the total number known to be kept in captivity worldwide. WSPA, which is opposed to the taking of wild dolphins from their natural habitat, has been campaigning against the taking of dolphins for marine parks and against the controversial captive swim-with-dolphin programs. Sadly, the industry is a lucrative one - foreign business interests collecting and training dolphins for shipment abroad can sell a dolphin for up to $30,000 - which preys upon unsuspecting tourists, who are unaware of the suffering they are inadvertently contributing to.

Garces continued, "How many more captures will there be before people realize that the so-called 'pleasure' they experience from watching dolphins in captivity comes at a grave cost to the animal entertaining them? I urge anyone thinking of visiting a marine park or swim-with-dolphin programs to reconsider. By visiting such places you are endorsing a cruel, unethical and, in this case and many more like it, illegal practice."

Writing letters to help animals:

(We have provided a sample letter below which you may wish to copy and paste into your email.) Please send your letters, faxes and emails to help release the Solomon Island dolphins to: Click here to have your voice heard by the Solomon Islands decision-makers. Your letters will be read by: The Honorable David Holosivi Ministry of Forestry, Environment and Conservation Honiara Solomon Islands Honorable Nelson Kile Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Honiara Solomon Islands The Honorable Philip Goff Minister for Foreign Affairs New Zealand The Honorable Alexander Downer Minister for Foreign Affairs Australia Copies of your correspondence will be sent to: Sir Allan Kemakeza Prime Minster Solomon Islands and Sir John Lapli Governor-General Solomon Islands Sample Letter: Dear Mr. Minister: After learning from the World Society for the Protection of Animals that dozens of dolphins have been captured in the Solomon Islands, I'd like to respectfully request that you use your influence to make certain that the animals receive the best care available and that every effort be made to release them. While this venture had promised to bring hope and prosperity to the Solomon Islands, it would appear to have done the opposite, only adding to the difficulties facing officials there. With the investigation of this matter by the CITES Secretariat in Geneva and international media scrutiny, any additional exports of these animals are unlikely. Further, reports indicate that at least 4 dolphins have already died and more deaths are expected due to crowded conditions, lack of proper nutrition, injury and illness. With these deaths will come even more media scrutiny. Certainly, this situation is highly unfortunate for all involved. Mr. Minister, I believe that you are the only one who can fix this terrible situation. I urge you to take steps immediately to ensure that the dolphins receive the necessary care and are returned to the wild. Respectfully, [Your Name] [City, State, County] CC: Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza Governor-General Sir John Lapli