Scubaroo
Contributor
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/21/1058639711498.html
Mexico has granted importation licences for dolphins, to be flown from the Solomon Islands to Cancun this week, in violation of a CITES agreement which Mexico is bound by, in dolphin trade.
The dolphins are being purchased from the Solomon Islands for $400 AUD, which is about $255 USD per animal. The Solomon Islands are currently in a state of near civil war, that has resulted in the government requesting international assistance to restore law and order, in the form of Australian peacekeepers comprised of army and federal police arriving within a week. Mexico is being accused of exploiting the unrest to procure the animals, which seem destined for tourist attractions in Cancun.
Other news reports claim the dolphins are possibly going to be resold for up to $165,000 USD each to other parks, and that only 33 will be imported, despite up to 200 animals having been captured for the project.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20030717-1420-mexico-dolphintrade.html
This link is from the Dolphin Project, and has photos of the dolphins in captivity in the Solomons, as well as email addresses of Solomon government officials you can protest to.
http://www.dolphinproject.org/detail.cfm?menu_id=549
Mexico has granted importation licences for dolphins, to be flown from the Solomon Islands to Cancun this week, in violation of a CITES agreement which Mexico is bound by, in dolphin trade.
The dolphins are being purchased from the Solomon Islands for $400 AUD, which is about $255 USD per animal. The Solomon Islands are currently in a state of near civil war, that has resulted in the government requesting international assistance to restore law and order, in the form of Australian peacekeepers comprised of army and federal police arriving within a week. Mexico is being accused of exploiting the unrest to procure the animals, which seem destined for tourist attractions in Cancun.
Other news reports claim the dolphins are possibly going to be resold for up to $165,000 USD each to other parks, and that only 33 will be imported, despite up to 200 animals having been captured for the project.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20030717-1420-mexico-dolphintrade.html
This link is from the Dolphin Project, and has photos of the dolphins in captivity in the Solomons, as well as email addresses of Solomon government officials you can protest to.
http://www.dolphinproject.org/detail.cfm?menu_id=549
