HONIARA, Solomon Islands (30 Oct 2004) -- The Solomon Islands was accused by an animals right group of capturing and cruelly treating dolphins by keeping them in overcrowded, polluted and shallow pens to be sold to the highest bidder. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) called on the government of the South Pacific island nation to immediately stop what it called an "animal welfare tragedy" and take steps to rehabilitate and release the captive dolphins. The captures of the dolphins, which the society said were in response to a 260 US dollar bounty for each dolphin taken from the wild, were first highlighted by the WSPA a year ago. "One year after the WSPA first exposed the cruel and illegal dolphin trade in the Solomon Islands, new investigations reveal that 44 dolphins are still being held in the most appalling conditions in overcrowded, polluted and shallow sea pens off the island of Gavutu," it said. The society said its investigators had observed dolphins displaying injuries consistent with fighting for space and several were known to have died since being taken from the wild. "The condition of these dolphins is shocking and we are extermely concerned for their welfare," said WSPA regional campaigns manager Heather Potter. She said the scheme was believed to have been initiated by foreign business interests, whom she named as Marine Exports Ltd and Solomon Island Marine Mammal Education Centre Ltd. | | The society believes the people responsible for catching the dolphins want to sell them overseas to resorts and aquariums which would train them to perform tricks. About 30 were shipped from the Solomon Islands to a tourist resort in Mexico last year. One died on the way and several others have died subsequently. "Time is running out if we are to prevent these animals from being sold to the highest bidder and having to spend their entire lives in captivity," she said. "This is a classic example of foreign business interests exploiting the natural resources of a native people, with no regard for the welfare of the animals that they hope to profit from. "These dolphins are displaying obvious signs of physical and psychological distress, many of them have cuts and scratches on their backs and are suffering from sunburn." The society called for an international campaign against the trade, and urged people to protesting to the Solomons Minister for Fisheries Paul Maenu'u in Honiara. SOURCE - AFP |
