For the Animals

Maria Lopes

THE INFAMOUS CAPTURE OF HUNDREDS OF DOLPHINS TO BE SOLD TO MEXICO

Source: Marine Connection and Captive Animals Protection Society

The Marine Connection are urging the Mexican Government to intervene to stop the import of wild caught dolphins from the Solomon Islands for display in marine parks around Mexico and for onward sale to countries worldwide.  Up to 200 animals have  been captured for a Mexican syndicate who are offering local fishermen $400 per animal. There is great concern for the effects these captures will have on the wild dolphin population

The captured dolphins are protected under CITES law (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) to which Mexico are signatories.  CITES prohibits the import of live dolphins if  it is "detrimental to them and not subject to proper regulation". However Jorge Soberon (CITES Scientific Authority in Mexico), states he will not stop the export/import of these animals from the Solomon Islands, and permits have already been issued to Parque Nizuc, a dolphin swim facility just outside Cancun.  

The reason given for this decision is that the Solomon Islands issued a statement of non-detriment and CITES feel that they have done everything in their power and within their means to check the situation and assess independently the welfare of the dolphins.  However the legality of this "official" paperwork must be questioned due to the fact that the Solomon Islands are not signatory to CITES and therefore are not bound by its' regulations.  Also the fact that these troubled islands currently do not have a proper functioning public sector to efficiently oversee such things as export permits.   4 dolphins have already died and therefore we fail to see how CITES can stand by their decision to grant the import as clearly the importers are flaunting the conditions as the captures and confinement of these animals is certainly "detrimental to them".

The dolphins are being held in a sea pen, which is protected by armed security guards.  Foreign reporters and film crews have been subjected to attack, assault and arrest whilst trying to compile  reports and film dolphins being held in the makeshift pen and their subsequent air transfer to Mexico.

The Marine Connection has requested an interview with The Mexican Ambassador in London Senora Moreno-Razo.  However Margaux Dodds, Director and Co-founder of The Marine Connection, was told today by Enrique Palos, one of the Ambassador's Councellors, that they would be unable to meet with the charity to discuss the welfare of these animals due to the fact they did not have sufficient information from the Mexican Minister of the Environment.

In the meantime, Mexican traders are quite clearly being allowed to break international animal welfare laws for profit, at the expense of the lives of these wild dolphins. Amazingly supported by the Mexican Government who are party to one of the greatest wildlife crimes of current times.

CITES Secretariat, Switzerland,

cites@unep.ch

Jorge Soceron Mainero, CITES Scientific Authority, Mexico,

jsoberon@xolo.conabio.gob.mx

President Vicente Fox, Mexico,
Elizondo@presidencia.gob.mx

Victor Lichtinger, Secretary of the Environment, Mexico,
vlichtinger@semarnat.gob.mx

Her Excellency Senora Alma Rosa Moreno-Razo, Mexican Embassy, London,
mexuk@easynet.co.uk

British High Commissioner in the Solomon Islands,
bhc@solomon.com.sb

Dear Sirs,

I am terrible concerned and  I write to you regarding information which I have received regarding the capture of dolphins from the wild population by fishermen of the Solomon Islands.

I have been advised that the company purchasing some of these dolphins for export and display is Parque Nizuc near Cancun, with transactions being dealt with by Mr Mauricio Martinez de Alba, manager of the facility.  They were granted an import permit last week to bring 33 dolphins from the Solomon Islands. I believe they have applied to the Solomon Islands due to new wildlife laws in Mexico prohibiting the capture of marine mammals in Mexican waters. 

As Mexico are signatory to the CITES convention, I feel the Secretariat and the National Secretariat for the Management of the Environment and/or Foreign Affairs have a duty to investigate this matter with some urgency, especially as Tursiops Truncates are fully protected under CITES law.

I am writing to respectfully request you intervene and stop these captures, ensure the animals receive professional vet car and are released back into the wild population from which they have been taken. I am extremely concerned for their welfare, not only is the legality of these animals holding facilities in question, but I also have reports of inexperienced fishermen, tempted by the $400 bounty, literally ripping animals from the water.  Following capture the animals are then forced to endure hours of travelling in an open boat with no shelter and resting on their vital organs.  This long ride must be, for these waterborne mammals, excruciating.  I was informed  that currently anything from 60- 200 dolphins are being held in a pen on Gela island and are packed into small "sub pens" which form part of larger pens which they are allowed into for exercise/training, and then placed back into these tiny holding pens. I understand that to date, at least one dolphin has died after being attacked and killed by a crocodile. If you take into consideration the almost certain rise in the death toll of these animals from capture injuries, stress-induced illness, aggressive attacks upon each other due to incarceration in cramped conditions, improper care and malnutrition as the dolphins food supply is scarce, I am sure you will appreciate myconcern for their welfare and also the fact that removing large numbers of dolphins from the wild population could have a devastating long-term effect on the pods of dolphins in the waters of the Solomon Islands.

I trust you will take immediate action and look forward to receiving your reply as a matter of urgency.

Sincerely

Name/Country

UPDATE - CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHARITABLE BULLFIGHT STAGED BY APTT 21

INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST BULLFIGHTS

Unfortunately and spite all the thousands letters sent the charitable bullfight took place. For all that supported this campaign our thanks. This is a war and in a war we will loose many battles.

PLEASE HELP SRI LANKAN ELEPHANTS

Source: Kala Santha

It is urgent .Animal People News paper has  published in May 2003 (page 16)the sad fate of the Sri Lankan elephants We need your help.The Government has approved a cabinet paper to give the baby elephants of Pinnawela.to private owners.We request you to Boycot Sri lankan products as that is the only  way we can save our animals .If you can post or email  a letter that would be great.
Please  request the Government to:

1.Cancel the cabinet paper and stop giving orphaned elephants  to temples and the so called breeding center at Aranayake.If the Government doesn`t have enough funds  the suitable elephants should be released into the safe areas of the jungle.Reunite all the elephants which were given away from the Pinnawela elephant orphanage ..To abolish wild animal performances and introduce an antichaining legislation and introduce aevere penalty for animal cruelty.Minister from the Previous government has stolen elephants from the elephant drive they have done at Handapangala .Investigations should be done and release these elephants  to the jungle.
Government has to  remove  the  farmers  from the  areas where  wild animals  roam .

2..to stop giving guns to the farmers and  not to give permission to start private zoos and to import exotic animals including birds from abroad and to finish the inquires .
In March  2001 The authorities  began investigating  the disappearance  of a crocodile  carcass from a freezer and the discovery of  an elephant hide in the room of  a zoo veterinarian . Zoo animals were  dying  mysteriously ..
In  1988 the   same veterinarian had stolen a  Bengal tigers head  which was eventually found  in  a freezer of the zoo aquarium.These incidents brought an inquiry  into whether the zoo was involved  in selling wild animal
parts..Meanwhile  on April  6th 2001  female black rhino called Momella was found dead.An elecric wire had fallen down .She reportedly died of electric shock after munching the wires. The  Zoo Director and the Assitant Director were transferred.and  a new  Director was sent.
The post mortem was  conducted by the veterinarian  who had  stolen the Bengal  tigers head. .
What has happened to the Momella`s horn and the inquiry  of the veterinarian?

 No  no action has taken against  these  officers animals at the zoo are subjected to cruelty.In 2003 A mahout  has injured an eye of a baby elepahant named Ganga and  two African elephants were banging their heads as
a backhoe was used near their shed .The Director a brigadier has no knowledge about running a zoo.deciplinary action should be taken against them.

4.Previous Government started  exporting  meat and some.Ministers of that government  were employing  thugs   with pistols  to steal cattle  from poor farmers ..The   animals were skinned alive.On 22nd of April  2002 on the instructions of the Agriculture Ministry a letter  was sent to  officers of the Department of Animal Production and health   debaring  the cabinet decision of 1983 to  ban killing  of all Buffaloes and female cattle.Include the 1983 cabinet decision to law.

5 Restrict and ban advertising pesticides in Media and news papers.

Thanking you ,
Kala

Prime Minister Mr Ranil Wickramsinghe
Temple Trees
  Colombo 3
   Sri Lanka

e.mail  prime_minister@sltnet.lk
Cc to MInister of Justice  Buddhasasana and National Intragation
    Mr W.J.M Lokubandara
  e.mail  buddhasasana@eureka.lk

  cc gamini@unl.upali.lk

Cc to Minister  of Foreign Affairs Mr Tyronne Fernando
  fomin@sri.lanka.net

 Cc to Minister of Human Resource Development, Education and Cultural
Affairs Dr Karunasena Kodithuwakku
mcami@sltnet.lk

Dear Sir

I know that Lord Buddha  has been very kind to animals .He wanted all animals and humans to be healthy and happy. I was surprised to hear that the Agriculture Ministrs of the Previous Government and the present
Government were issuing guns to the farmers to protect the crops from the wild boars .Large number of wild elephants and other animals and humans were injured and killed because of that. I request your Government to stop issuing guns to the farmers and remove humans from the encroached areas.Baby elephants become orphaned because of that.
I was shocked to hear that your  Government has decided to give 6 elephants from the elephant orphanage to a  Vedamahaththya  of Aranayaka who  has a  clinic at the  riverbed of Maoya at Aranayake. Heated iron rods are used to burn the boils to  treat the legs of the elephants.The elephant is not anaesthetised.That is a  cruel outdated  method which should be stopped at once.
It is unethical to show the treating of animals to tourists.
It is accepted world wide that the sick or healthy wild animals get stressed when humans are present.

Your  Government has given away 6 elephants from the elephant orphanage.

These elephants wil be like dead elephants  as they would be beaten and tied by the chains most of the time .
We request you to allow  baby elephants  to live with their friends and parents at Pinnawela and to take them to these Processions in the relevant temples during the period of the processions .

Elephants are very social animals and should never be kept in solitary confinement and mother and offspring should be kept together  until the offspring is at least 7 years of age.
 .
The Founder of Wild  life  Heritage Trust Mr Rohan Pethiyagodaof has disturbed and destroyed  the  habitats  of  the innocent  frogs  crabs  and other  endangered  animals   for  their  biorepository  and sent those
killed  specimens to other countries  also ..That is  an illegal  act. and why did  the Government  give permission to do such activities? He is a threat to your wild life and nature. I was surprised to hear that Mr
Pethiyagoda has been appointed as a consultant for the Environment Ministry
As a result  elephant polo ,private  zoos  commercial  hunting and  ADB `s Protected Aeea Management and  Wild Life project  ,bush meat export will be introduced to  your  country .They will destroy your bio diversity
and heritage.
The elephants who are used for tourist rides are often denied food water and rest.They are forced to work in the hot sun for hours .Their backs have sores from the sharp howdah.The American Zoo and Aquarium Association instituted a policy against the use of elephants for rides.
I am appalled that elephants are beaten to entertain tourists and they live in hell .Chained for life .I request you to introduce a anti-chaining legislation.

IDITAROD AND PRINCESS CRUISES