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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

MONTH: June 2007

Dolphin captures planned in Panamanian waters

 

"The dolphin brokerage operation formally known as Wildlife International Network is moving closer to capturing 80 dolphins in Panama," In Defense of Animals warned in a May 2, 2007 "Action Alert," based on findings by Panamanian activists and Dolphin Project founder Ric O'Barry, who began exposing the operation in March.

"WIN is now known as Ocean Embassy," IDA said.

"If Ocean Embassy is successful," O'Barry told ANIMAL PEOPLE, "they will be able to supply dolphins to just about any place that wants them.

"We were never able to meet with the decision makers in Panama who approved the capture of the dolphins," O'Barry said after visiting to help lead protests, "but we reached the people who elected them. All of the NGOs in Panama are working together to stop the captures. They have organized two protests so far. About 1000 people turned up for the first one and about 500 for the second."

However, "President Martin Torrijos and the first lady are strong supporters of the dolphin captures," O'Barry said. "I am told that it is unconstitutional to capture dolphins in Panama, but they are on the fast track to capture them anyhow. Legislation was passed in 2005 to protect the marine environment-including dolphins. The Authority for the Aquatic Resources of Panama was established to oversee the new legislation," but of the 10 AARP members, "Eight voted for capturing the dolphins and two voted against.

"The committee imported an 'objective biologist' from Cuba who conducted her own research into Ocean Embassy and the proposed dolphin captures," O'Barry charged. "We met this same 'objective biologist' in Guatemala a few years ago when rescuing two dolphins from a traveling dolphin show. She is in fact a dolphin trainer working at the National Aquarium in Havana, Cuba."

Retaliating, "Ocean Embassy Panama has charged one of the principal critics of its plans, Dr. Celma Moncada of the animal welfare group Fundacion Humanitas, with criminal defamation," reported Eric Jackson of Panama News.

"In response, Moncada has filed a complaint alleging that the company is committing fraud and conducting a deceptive publicity campaign."

"They say they're investing $400 million, and they're not," Moncada told Jackson.

"WIN was [formerly] in the Solomon Islands, establishing a dolphin export operation with their partner Christopher Porter of Marine Export Limited," IDA recalled. The Solomon Islands project captured 170 dolphins in mid-2003, during a time of political disturbance when the islands were effectively without government, until occupied by Australian troops.

Twenty-eight of the dolphins were flown to Parque Nizuc in Cancun, Mexico, in July 2003. Mexico forbade further imports from the Solomons after several of the dolphins died. Fifteen survivors were reportedly relocated to a swim-with-dolphins facility on Cozumel island in July 2004.

What became of the rest is unknown. Visitors counted 44 in a sea pen on Gavutu Island in late 2004, 26 in late 2005, and 20 in February 2006. "We believe that WIN and MAR are responsible for the deaths of at least 25 dolphins," IDA said.