The Solomon Islands, north of Australia, has begun a massive dolphin hunt and reports indicate that they may have already snagged from 60 to 200 animals. Taken over the past few weeks, these dolphins have been violently torn from their ocean home and placed in pens as part of a scheme by foreign interests to supply the dolphin entertainment industry. With a promise of $400 per dolphin, the native fishermen have been frantically trying to capture as many of the marine mammals as they can.

The dolphins are currently being held in small sea cages in various locations, with up to 60 dolphins on Gela alone, an island off the capital, Honiara. Many of the dolphins have to travel for hours by boat to reach these sea pens, an excruciating journey for these marine mammals whose internal organs are slowly crushed when they are removed from their weightless water environment.

Rumor has it that this foreign business group plans to train these dolphins and ship them overseas to supply various captive dolphin facilities and swim-with-the-dolphin programs. "This is an animal welfare tragedy and could well have serious impact on the environment," said Ric O'Barry, WSPA's Marine Mammal Specialist, "The taking of so many dolphins from one small area is unbelievably damaging to the local dolphins' gene pool."

One captured dolphin has already been killed by a salt-water crocodile and WSPA expects the death toll to rise due to stress-induced illness, improper care and malnutrition as the dolphins compete for the scarce food supply. According to O'Barry, "The large number of animals is extremely difficult to manage, especially if you don't have the right medicines, equipment and staff. The animals appear to be in very crowded conditions, which can lead to stress and aggression. Another thing to consider is that it takes thousands of pounds of fish - per day - to feed so many dolphins. Either the dolphins are going hungry, which I suspect is happening, or the Solomon's are strip mining their seas of fish."

Compounding the tragedy of the recent dolphin captures is the fact that until this dolphins-for-dollars scheme was announced, dolphins had long been a cherished part of the Solomon Islands' cultural heritage. Many of the animals are now being taken from waters off the island of Malaita, where dolphin teeth continue to be part of traditional bridal dowry ceremonies. In other areas, it is taboo to harm a dolphin, based on the ancient belief that humans with mystical powers could transform themselves into sea creatures.

While the fate of the dolphins is at the forefront of this crisis, WSPA believes the future of the Solomon Islands is also in jeopardy. With the political system in disarray, many see this as yet another example of the country being taken advantage of by foreign profiteers, its natural resources plundered and its cultural heritage cast aside.

Writing letters to help animals:

WSPA is calling on the government to take immediate action to stop the hunting and capture of dolphins in the Solomon Islands and to set free those dolphins that have already been victimized by this violent process. Please send a fax or place a phone call today to declare your support for the release of the Solomon Island dolphins. Honorable Nelson Kile Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources P.O. Box G13 Honiara Solomon Islands Facsimile: 011-677-387-30 Telephone: 011-677-391-43 or 011-677-301-07 Honorable David Holosivi Ministry of Forestry, Environment and Conservation P.O. Box G24 Honiara Solomon Islands Facsimile: 011-677-228-25 Telephone: 011-677- 258-48 or 011-677-224-53