(Taiwan)More than 40 dead dolphins found in farm freezer

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http://www.ananova.com/yournews/story/sm_588302.html

 

More than 40 dead dolphins found in farm freezer

 

Investigators have found dozens of dead dolphins in a

raid on a farm in Taiwan.

 

Two suspects have been accused of illegally selling

dolphin meat.

 

Between 40 to 50 dolphins were found in a freezer at

the farm in Yunlin County.

 

TVBS cable news showed investigators lugging the

frozen dolphins out of the freezer and stacking them

on the ground. Some of the creatures were already

carved up, and the meat was carefully packed in white

boxes. Investigators dumped several dolphin heads in a

pile of cut up carcasses.

 

Authorities arrested a 67-year-old man, Wu Wan-jiau,

and his wife, Hsu Shu-nu, the semiofficial Central

News Agency reports. Hsu says her husband is innocent

and that the dolphins belonged to her, the report

says.

 

But investigators say Wu, who has been caught dealing

dolphins before, had tried to sell the meat to a

businessman in March.

 

The two suspects are being detained and were not

immediately available for comment.

 

Because dolphins are a protected species in Taiwan,

those who illegally hunt them can be sentenced to up

to seven years in prison.

 

Seafood is a staple in the Taiwanese diet, and people

enjoy sampling all kinds of creatures from the sea,

including dolphins - which in Mandarin are called

" haitun " or " sea pigs. " Dolphin meat is sometimes sold

in coastal fish markets.

 

Story filed: 12:30 Wednesday 15th May 2002

 

 

 

 

 

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