Australia Asks Mexico to Save 'Abducted' Dolphins

July 18, 2003

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AUSTRALIA: July 18, 2003

SYDNEY - Australia asked Mexico yesterday to block the import of 200

dolphins captured in the lawless Solomon Islands and held in crowded,

shallow pens after being bought by a Mexican consortium.

Environment Minister David Kemp, whose country is on the verge of leading

2,000 troops and police to help restore order in the strife-torn South

Pacific nation, said the trade in dolphins was banned if it resulted in harm

to the species.

" We are also communicating our concern to the Solomon Islands, however we

believe that on-ground action in the Solomon Islands to prevent the export

may be difficult in light of that country's current situation, " Kemp said in

a statement.

Animal rights groups say around 200 dolphins had been rounded up by Solomon

Islands fishermen, dumped in open boats and then imprisoned in three-feet

deep pens on Gela island.

Pressure group Australians for Animals said the dolphins were being sold to

a Mexican consortium. Australian newspapers have reported they are being

sold for $263 cash a head.

The first batch of 33 " traumatized and terrified " dolphins was expected to

be loaded on to a charter flight to Mexico in a few weeks, Australians for

Animals said.

" No civilized nation can stand back and allow this kind of horrible marine

abduction, " said group coordinator Sue Arnold.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and

Flora, to which Mexico is a signatory, prohibits the trade in dolphins if it

is detrimental to them and not subject to proper licensing and regulation.

The Solomons, a chain of 1,000 islands 1,200 miles northeast of Australia,

has not signed up to the convention. Nor does it have a properly functioning

public sector to efficiently oversee such things as export permits.

The former British protectorate is about to be virtually taken over by an

international police and peacekeeping force, led by Australia, after years

of ethnic violence and a 2000 coup sent it spiralling into anarchy and

bankruptcy.

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE

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