FW: : Capture of transport of dolphins in the Solomon Islands

[Guest guest]

------ Forwarded Message

 

Mon, 21 Jul 2003 20:49:42 -0400

 

 

Making big news in Australia but largely ignored by the US press is the

capture and shipment of dolphins from the Solomon Islands. The story, by

Craig Skehan, appears in both the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne

Age, on Tuesday, July 22.

 

The Age article, on page 9, is headed, " Islanders Angry Over Air Shipment

Of Live Dolphins. "

 

Skehan writes, " A controversial shipment of live dolphins bound for Mexico

flew out of Honiara on a specially chartered Brazilian aircraft yesterday,

leaving the local community angry at the treatment of the animals. "

 

We learn that the media was barred from filming the transport:

" A New Zealand cameraman was kicked by police and his Solomons assistant was

punched by police and unidentified men in plain clothes.

 

" Several members of the media had videotapes and photographic disks seized

before a senior officer intervened to have them returned. He said the police

action at the airport should not have happened. "

 

Skehan tells us, " More than 30 dolphins have been kept in pens on Honiara's

main beach over the past few days and dozens more are being held on the

small island of Gela awaiting export.

 

" Locals involved in the operation have told The Age that international

buyers - including Taiwanese, Thais and Japanese - have visited the Solomons

to inspect the mammals.

 

Skehan quotes locals who are upset by the operation, one telling him " at

least four dolphins had died after injuring themselves by banging against

the fences of their pens. "

 

We also learn that the Australian Government has called on the Solomon

Islands to stop the international trade in dolphins, which foreign animal

welfare campaigners maintain is illegal under international law. But the

current unrest in the Solomon Islands makes the situation difficult to

control.

 

You'll find the story on line at:

 

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/21/1058639726407.html

 

Skehan's Sydney Morning Herald Story (July 22, page 2) includes similar

information on the dolphins, in a more general story headed, " Troops Head To

Solomons Amid Dolphin Trade Furore "

 

You'll find it online at:

 

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/21/1058639732127.html

 

Australia's national newspaper, The Australian, also carries the story on

page 2 (July 22). But I was unable to find a link to it. I will share a few

descriptive lines:

 

Mary-Louise O'Callaghan writes:

 

" Thirty wild bottlenose dolphins were shipped out of the Solomon Islands to

Mexico last night amid tight security and allegations of dubious

environmental practices.

 

" The dolphins, in individual coffin-like pens, were loaded aboard a Brasil

Air Cargo DC-10 at Honiara's international airport.

 

" Local fisherman are believed to have been paid about $SBD2500 ($400) for

each dolphin, which can fetch between $US50,000 ($77,000) and $US100,000 on

the open market.

 

You'll find far more detailed information about the situation at the WSPA

website:

http://www.wspa.org.uk/index.php?page=713

 

If you click on " Briefing " you will get loads of background information.

" Take Action " provides addresses for emails and letters to the Solomon

Islands government.

 

This distressing story gives us an opportunity to let people know what they

are supporting when they go to marine parks or have fun swimming with

captive dolphins. Letters to the editor can be sent to:

 

The Age: letters

Link: letters

 

The Sydney Morning Herald: letters

Link: letters

 

And The Australian:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.auaus_letters.htm

 

Or send a similar letter to any paper where you spot the story. Don't

hesitate to ask me for help if you have trouble finding the correct email

address for a letter to the editor.

 

Yours and the animals',

Karen Dawn

www.DawnWatch.com

 

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in

the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets.

You can learn more about it at www.DawnWatch.com. To to DawnWatch,

email KarenDawn and tell me you'd like to receive alerts. If

at any time you find DawnWatch is not for you, just let me know via email

and I'll take you off the r list immediately. If you forward or

reprint DawnWatch alerts, please do so unedited, leaving DawnWatch in the

title and including this tag line.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

------ End of Forwarded Message