| 09/11/2006 10:20:34 AM
 WDCS has learned that the Dominican Republic has
decided to prohibit further dolphin imports for public display in the country's
captive dolphin facilities.
The decision follows a request for the
import of more dolphins from the notorious Manati Park, a dolphinarium much
criticized by the environmental NGO community for the poor quality of care for
the animals it holds. Many dolphins have died in captivity at the facility.
Manati Park had applied to import four more dolphins from Cuba,
but was denied permission by the Dominican Government. There is a great deal of
concern about continued captures of bottlenose dolphins in Cuban waters for
export and display in aquariums and dolphinariums overseas. Scientists at the
2006 International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee meeting calling on
international trade in the animals to cease. Furthermore, both Cuba and the
Dominican Republic are Parties to UNEP’s Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife
Protocol, which prohibits taking, possession and commercial trade in dolphins.
WDCS has been campaigning against dolphin captures and imports for
Manati Park for several years, working alongside local NGO, FUNDEMAR, to expose
the cruelty of confinement in captivity and promote wild whale and dolphin
watching as an alternative. WDCS, along with the Humane Society International
and the World Society for the Protection of Animals, supports a local project
promoting dolphin conservation in the Dominican Republic: Proyecto Amigos de los
Delfines (Friends of the Dolphin Project).
WDCS congratulates the
decision by the Dominican Republic Government in this important move for the
protection of the dolphins of the Caribbean.
Source: dominican today.com/ WDCS
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