But a Solomon Islands environmentalist, Lawrence Makili claims the seven dolphins will eventually end up in Singapore.
A spokesman from the Ministry of Fisheries rejected Mr Makili’s assertion the export was kept secret.
“The deal was legal because the Government allowed 100 dolphins to be exported out of the country each year and that was only the first seven this year,” the spokesman said.
Full articles on the wildsingapore news blog.
In Feb 08, Robert Satu, a business partner of the dolphin-exporting company was reported as saying that he was looking at exporting live dolphins to Singapore. “I have switched from Dubai because Singapore offers a more attractive package for our market.” (from Dolphin exporter signs deal with Western Province Joy A. Rikimae, Solomon Star 19 Feb 08)
Related articles
- Solomon Islands to export 30 dolphins to Dubai
Yahoo News 12 Oct 07 - 3 dolphins found dead in Solomon Islands
Yahoo News 17 Oct 07 - Report of a Fact-finding Visit to the Solomon Islands, 9-12 September 2003 (PDF file) by Graham Ross1, Frances Gulland1, Nick Gales, Robert Brownell and Randall Reeves
- Environmental Concerns Action Network Of Solomon Islands response to the IUCN REPORT "ECANSI (Environmental Concerns Action Network of Solomon Islands) wishes to place on record the deep concern of this organization over the Report of a Fact-finding visit to the Solomon Islands, 9-12 September, 2003 by Drs Graham Ross and Frances Gulland on behalf of the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group and the IUCN/SSC Veterinary Specialist Group."
- SUFFERING, NOT SMILING: The Truth About Captive Dolphins
A campaign by Acres to raise awareness on the plight of captive dolphins and to urge Singaporeans not to support marine parks and dolphinariums that keep dolphins in captivity.
