In late 2008, 18 wild-caught Solomon dolphins were exported to the Philippines for 'training' and will eventually be sent to Singapore for Resorts World Sentosa. SPCA has spoken against this move, and the issue was among those that sparked the setting up of the facebook group I will boycott Resorts World Sentosa and its Marine Life Park which currently has 2,000 members.
On their page about their Marine Life Park, Resorts World Sentosa states that "The acquisition of animals for the Marine Life Park will be done in full compliance with international standards which, in this case, are standards set by CITES."
Some excerpts of a report on this latest development:
Evidence from leading cetacean experts in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Cetacean Specialist Group (CSG) reveals a lack of population data for bottlenose dolphins in the Solomon Islands.
This led the specialists to conclude that it is impossible to determine that the export of bottlenose dolphins is not detrimental to the wild population - a CITES requirement.
Despite these findings, the Solomon Islands exported 28 wild-caught dolphins in 2007 and 19 more to the Philippines this past winter.
If the Solomon Islands is violating the rules, it will be given a chance to comply before trade sanctions could be implemented.
The Animals Committee also recommended that the Solomon Islands' government set a more cautious dolphin export quota. A total quota (including all causes of dolphin mortality and live captures) of ten bottlenose dolphins per year for up to four years as a precautionary standard until population surveys are completed was suggested by a CSG representative.
Currently, the government has established an annual export quota of 100 wild-caught dolphins - a level of trade the CSG deemed unsustainable.
Related articles and links
- Earth Island wants total export ban on dolphins from the Solomon Islands Solomon Star 5 May 09;
- Facebook group I will boycott Resorts World Sentosa and its Marine Life Park
- Solomon dolphin trade to be scrutinized by CITES Earth Times 28 Apr 09
- Solomon dolphin forum a farce: annual export quota set at 100 dolphins
- Solomon Islands to host forum on international dolphin trade
- Resorts World Sentosa: at what price?
- Singapore SPCA speaks out against wild dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa
- Philippines asked to return dolphins to the Solomon Islands Solomon Star 16 Jan 09;
- Dolphins at the Sentosa Integrated Resort: Senator cites Mexico's sad experience with dolphins Grace Chua, Straits Times 12 Jan 09;
- Facebook Group: Boycott Sentosa Marine Life Park
- SUFFERING, NOT SMILING: The Truth About Captive Dolphins on the Acres website.
- Singapore warned on dolphin imports for Resorts World Sentosa The Solomon Star 31 Dec 08;
- Animal activists decry need to import wild dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa Grace Chua, Straits Times 27 Dec 08;
- Another 11 Solomon dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa
- What will the Solomon dolphins go through in the Philippines? Some background of the facilities that will train them.
- Confirmation that the 7 dolphins are going to Resorts World Sentosa and what the dolphins cost
- First hints that the 7 dolphins were going to Resorts World Sentosa.
- Universal Studios distances itself from dolphins at Resorts World Sentosa.
- More about dolphins in general: their status, threats and other issues, on the wildsingapore news blog.
