Dolphin slave trader Chris Porter

[DevilDiver]

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (18 Oct 2007) — A shipment of 28 live bottlenose dolphins flew from Solomon Islands to an aquatic park in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai despite protests from environmental groups and two South Pacific governments.

Two airplanes left late Wednesday from the South Pacific nation and the dolphins would be looked after with "great care" on the 30-hour flight said Robert Satu, a director of the export company, Solomon Islands Marine Mammal Education Center and Exporters Ltd.

As the mammals were being loaded, three dead dolphins were located near the firm's holding pens outside the Solomons' capital, Honiara.
The partly decomposed bodies of the dolphins — including a calf — had been ripped open, apparently by stray dogs.

Satu on Wednesday denied any knowledge of dead dolphins.
Lawrence Makili, Pacific director of the San Francisco-based group Earth Island Institute, said the discovery of the dead dolphins constituted "clear evidence" that they had been mistreated.

Solomons Fisheries Minister Nollen Leni defended the decision to allow the exports, accusing animal welfare groups of trying to block the country's "new million dollar" industry.

Leni said each dolphin is priced at US$200,000 (€140,000) in the Dubai market.

[chace_nicole]

this is very sad news. I wonder if they will get in any kind of trouble for this?

[1honukane]

The bastiges !

[DevilDiver]

The Solomon Islands banned the live dolphin export trade in 2003 following an outcry over a consignment of 28 bottlenose dolphins to an aquatic park in Mexico. Activists claim at least nine of the dolphins died in Mexico.

Solomon Islands Marine Mammal Education Centre and Exporters Ltd Company director Robert Satu, who was involved in the exports to Mexico, claimed the ban was illegal and won a landmark court ruling last December that paved the way for dolphin exports to resume.


***Amusement parks typically greenwash dolphin shows to conceal huge profits and dead dolphins. "Dolphin Scuba Camp" at Anthony's Key Resort in Honduras promotes its "interactive" dolphin shows as an "educational" experience that combines dolphin feeding, a PADI scuba diving course.

[ScubaToys Larry]

This is one of these very strange topics with several sides to the coin. For example, I participated in a dolphin experience in Palau and that facility was started by the president of Sony - because he has an autistic son that once did a dolphin experience, and he opened up and smiled for the first time in a long time. So he financed out of his pocket this state of art facility and paid for top vets, etc to come work there. They charge tourists a little to get in with the dolphins, but any handicapped, or disadvantaged child can go anytime for free.

They have special lifts and waterproof wheel chairs for bringing the kids down into the water where the dolphins come up to them and they can pet them.

It's tragic anytime an animal as amazing as a dolphin dies - but a question we may have to ponder, is how many people, because of their experience with dolphins in a park or setting like that will do more good for the future of dolphins than if none were ever captured and brought to thousands of people to watch, awe and admire.

Would there be such a cry for the thousands that get crushed in Tuna nets yearly if people didn't get to pet them or see them at a show? Would starkist come out with "Dolphin Safe Tuna" if Sea World didn't exist?

I don't know the answer - but it makes it a more complex question.

[Flatliner]

Larry,

You make some excellent points. All too often we are swept up by emotion without taking an honest look at the problem.

Kudos to you!

[DevilDiver]

Good point, and I fully agree...

I would not advocate the closing Aquariums, Zoo's or actual educational programs that benefited the animals or the understanding of the general public. I know there are many wildlife programs that are beneficial for people and wildlife and they should be recognized for the work they do.

I do have issues with animals of any kind being trained to preform for the sake of a nice glossy $50 photo and a DVD. (Here is where you pick up that I am not a fan of the circus either)

If animals are "kept" as pets or performers there is a moral responsibility for adequate living conditions and humane care. This standard applies to private as well as commercial.

The sad reality is when $$ and humans mix common sense takes a back seat some of the time.

I have paid for the Dolphin Experience years back. After the clapping and splashes were finished I realized what I had just paid for was not an experience but a performance. Now I choose not to support these type of businesses. Exploiting creatures or people for no other reason but $$ is wrong and if I do not speak up then I am the one who should be ashamed.

Posting information like this is not meant to divide or aggravate. I believe these are issues people should be aware of and if they feel the need to learn more, question it or try to change things they feel are wrong... all the better.

[moosicman]

I think me and DevilDiver were twins separated at birth....I too support aquatic/terrestrial zoos in education and awareness. Unfortunatly there aren't many that take their eye off of the ball for the almighty dollar and the animals end up suffering. I live near Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia and I have a friend who worked there while she was in college. She has many stories of how the animals are poorly treated. I know it will never happen but i think if groups or organizations open such facilities they should have some sort of stipulations regulated on them, like maybe MANDATORY breeding programs to place other animals in other zoos or replace them in the wild...a logistical nightmare, i know, but it would be the humane thing to do. or absolutely some oversight into the care and treatment of these animals....they should have lives of luxury for trading off a life of freedom in the wild. there are some sad, sad stories of the goings on of such places....not that tragedy doesn't happen in the wild, but there is just something a bit off kilter about the training of these animals for our "enjoyment"......caution....this is disturbing
The Memory Hole > A Whale Bleeds to Death at Sea World

[Zyxistal]

That is just terrible.

[Osprey]

It won't be the first or last time a dolphin's death will be swept under the carpet. I wish more facilities were like the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, they actually teach children how biologists in the wild might track dolphins in the wild and what to look for the next time they're on a coast. It was cute

As for orcas in captivity, does anyone else know about Lolita? Lolita: Slave to Entertainment. animal right documentary