Eerily similar CITES goofs

[Guest guest]

Once again, highly sentient endangered species are being openly and

" legally " traded under the guise of being " captive bred " under CITES

approval and protection.

 

When that captive bred status, like the Taiping 4 gorillas, is easily proven

to be false and 99.9% likely to be the deliberate act of unscrupulous animal

dealers and rogue zoos, CITES doesn't seem to be able to do much to correct

the situation ...

 

Or perhaps CITES doesn't CARE much to correct it, since the same people

authorizing transfers like this, are then the ones who get to decide what

happens, once animal welfare groups, like ACRES or IPPL expose the crime.

 

Something is seriously wrong with a system that continually allows

loopholes, and no accountability. I guess my days of being so naive to

think that CITES officials should be protecting these endangered species,

are over.

 

Jane Dewar

 

-

" Louis Ng " <kknglois

<aapn >

Thursday, February 05, 2004 1:20 AM

PRESS RELEASE: Wild dolphins traded

 

 

> PRESS RELEASE

> 5 February 2004

> Acres investigation into Underwater World Singapore dolphins is proven

right

>

> SINGAPORE 5 FEBUARY - The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), in a

meeting with Acres on 20 January 2004 revealed that it had made a genuine

mistake in processing the application for the import of six Indo-Pacific

hump-backed dolphins (Sousa chinensis) by the Underwater World Singapore

(UWS). AVA mistakenly classified all of the dolphins as captive bred. It has

now been confirmed that only two of the six endangered dolphins were captive

bred and the rest were caught from the wild. This contradicted earlier

claims by UWS, Sentosa Development Corporation and AVA that the dolphins

were captive bred.

>

> According to our understanding, UWS had left Section 8 (source of animal)

of the application form for CITES permit and certificate blank. UWS,

however, knew that some of the dolphins were wild-caught and had informed

AVA of this, prior to the permit approval. AVA has now said that it will

make the corresponding correction on its annual Convention on International

Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) report.

>

> This revelation proves Acres' claim that most of the dolphins at UWS were

caught from the wild is right. Our investigation, which brought us as far as

Thailand, was based on factual evidence and data. As an organisation that

stresses on education and carrying out scientific research to support more

consideration to animals, Acres does not make unsubstantiated claims.

>

> UWS, which aims to play an important role in education, appears to have

misinformed the public. As of 4 February 2004, its website continues to

maintain that all the dolphins currently at Dolphin Lagoon are captive bred.

>

> Furthermore, as a conservation-oriented organisation, UWS acquired wild

caught dolphins from Thailand. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has

reported with regard to the Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins that " the

demand for live specimens in Thai oceanaria has recently led to the

development of a directed fisheries there and that the Indo-Pacific

hump-backed dolphins are no longer present in large parts of their former

home range in inshore waters of Thailand. "

>

> Given that the current CITES permits for the dolphins at UWS are invalid,

AVA and the Thailand Fishery Department will be issuing new import and

export permits. However, the CITES Convention text, Article III Para 2

states that " an export permit shall only be granted when the following

conditions have been met: (a) a Scientific Authority of the State of export

has been advised that such export will not be detrimental to the survival of

that species " . Based on the IUCN report, the export of wild caught dolphins

is clearly detrimental to the survival of this species.

>

> Acres urges both Singapore and Thailand authorities not to issue permits

for the wild caught dolphins acquired by UWS and ask for the repatriation of

these dolphins back to Thailand. We also want to reiterate that keeping

sensitive and highly intelligent animals like dolphins in captivity will

cause them great mental stress. One of UWS's dolphins caught from the wild

had already died of acute gastritis, a stress-induced illness.

>

> Acres would like to thank AVA for working with us towards the common goal

of greater welfare to animals. Acres will continue with the public awareness

campaign and call for the three remaining wild dolphins at UWS to be

released back to where they belong.

> Contact:

> Louis Ng (President)

> Email: louis

> Handphone: +65 9796 8592

> - ends -

> Notes to editors

> 1. Founded by a group of Singaporeans in 2001, Acres is a non-profit

organisation aimed at fostering respect and compassion for all animals.

Acres's approach to raising animal welfare issue is to focus on education

and back up our advocacy with scientific clarity accrued through research.

Using our findings, we will inform the public and work towards synergistic

partnerships with the authorities and related parties to improve animal

welfare.

>> 2. Acres launched the 'Suffering, not Smiling' campaign in

September

2003. The campaign aims to raise awareness on the plight of captive dolphins

and secure the freedom of the dolphins currently held in captivity at

Dolphin Lagoon, Underwater World Singapore.

> 3. The 'Suffering, not Smiling' campaign is supported by 45

worldwide organizations and 9 385 people.

>