Humane Society International, along with the Save Japan Dolphins coalition, placed an advertisement in the International Herald Tribune today to increase awareness of the deadly dolphin trafficking associated with dolphin exhibits and swim with the dolphin attractions.
"Wild-caught dolphins are being shipped with increasing frequency to theme parks and tourist attractions around the world, and many of them do not survive the traumatic capture or grueling transport," said Dr. Naomi Rose, senior scientist for HSI. "The public doesn't know about this ugly side to the 'happy' dolphin shows they pay to see, and governments around the world need to take responsibility and prohibit the import of dolphins from these inhumane trafficking operations."
With a going price of as much as $200,000 per dolphin, operators eager to make a huge profit are capturing and shipping dolphins wherever they can find customers. Japan captures dolphins in brutal drive fisheries, where pods of dolphins are herded to shore using boats and loud noise. A select few are sold to dolphin exhibits in Asia and the South Pacific; the rest are slaughtered for their meat or processed into fertilizer. But more recently, captures and exports have been approved by the Solomon Islands government (a small island state in the South Pacific, near Australia). Twenty-eight dolphins were sent to Mexico in 2003 (at least half are now dead) and 28 more to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in October 2007. Now 18 more may soon be captured and shipped to Singapore.
"We need to reach the public — and the customers, the theme parks and tourist attractions — to stop the demand for these innocent animals," added Rose.
Humane Society International opposes the capture of all marine mammals from the wild for any type of public display or entertainment. We believe swim-with-the-dolphin attractions, even under strict regulation, pose an immediate threat to the safety of human and dolphin participants.
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Humane Society International (HSI) is the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States, a nonprofit organization founded in 1954, with 10.5 million supporters. HSI works to create a humane and sustainable world for all animals, including people, through education, support, and the promotion of respect and compassion. Our efforts include: Building capacity in developing countries for humane agricultural practices and wildlife and habitat protection initiatives; helping to control stray animal populations using humane methods; promoting more humane treatment of livestock and providing veterinary services for livestock and companion animals; combating the illegal wildlife trade; protecting endangered species and marine mammals; educating children and adults; strengthening organizations and governments; and conserving wildlife habitats. Additional information can be found at hsi.org.
