Dolphins' bodies found dumped
in the Solomon Islands Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

Three bottlenose dolphins, including a
baby, were dumped in the Solomon Islands near a holding pen, where
controversial exports of the mammals were planned. They were found
near a coastal garbage dump near the capital of the Solomom Islands,
Honiara.
Though the export company claims they know
nothing of the dumpings, Pacific Director of the San Francisco-based
organization, Earth Island Institute, says differently. Lawrence
Makili said that there is no other suspect likely. "No one else is
involved in capturing wild dolphins for commercial purposes in the
country," he said. "These dead dolphins are clear evidence of the
mistreatment of these humble marine mammals."
The Solomon Islands banned the live dolphin
trade export in 2003 after at least nine of 28 bottlenose dolphins they
exported to an aquatic park in Mexico died. The Solomon Island
Marine Mammal Education Center and Exporters Ltd., the exporting
company, will be airlifting 28 more live dolphins to the United Arab
Emirates city of Dubai shortly, to another aquatic park. They are
being held in pens on Gavutu Island in the meantime. The director
of the company, Robert Satu, won a court ruling last December that
lifted the ban on exporting dolphins.
Earth Island Institue is seeking a court
injuction to stop further dolphin exports.
 You
can read the latest news alerts on the issue, as well as start your own
project or participate in current petitions, by visiting the Earth Island Institute's website, dedicated to
Conservation, Preservation, and
Restoration.
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