Ocean Embassy Drops Panama Dolphin Trafficking In the Face of Public Opposition
The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition announced today that a major company planning to capture and traffic in live dolphins has closed in Panama in the face of widespread public opposition.
"This is great news for dolphins and the people who love them," stated Richard O'Barry, Director of the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition. "Subjecting live dolphins to capture and captivity in small tanks is akin to putting people in prison. Too many aquariums and swim-with-dolphins operations are opening all around the world to cater to public interest in dolphins. But the dolphins don't do well in captivity, stolen from their own pods and families. Dolphins should be free and enjoyed in the wild, not in captivity."
The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition has worked to protect dolphins from slaughter and captivity. The Coalition worked with local grassroots Panamanian environmental and animal welfare organizations to protest plans by Ocean Embassy to set up a live capture operation for dolphins in that country. Richard O'Barry visited Panama to publicize the dangers to wild dolphins from Ocean Embassy.
O'Barry added: "Now, Panama can lay claim to being a Dolphin Friendly nation, that protects its wild heritage instead of selling it off to the highest bidder. We salute the people and the government of Panama for their efforts to protect wild dolphins."
"What wonderful news," stated Dr. Elliot Katz, President of In Defense of Animals. "This victory shows that compassion to other species is alive and well and that the effectiveness of international coalitions working in conjunction with community organizations can be a powerful force towards our making the world a more just and compassionate place."
Last week, Ocean Embassy sent a letter to the Panamanian government's Aquatic Resources Authority announcing they had given up plans to build a dolphinarium and capture operation for live dolphins to sell overseas. The company is dismantling the existing facility in San Carlos.
Local activists staged demonstrations against Ocean Embassy with hundreds of participants; polling shows 80% of the people of Panama opposed the Ocean Embassy dolphinarium and wild dolphin captures.
The Coalition to stop dolphin slaughter and stop dolphin trafficking consists of Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute, In Defense of Animals, and Animal Welfare Institute. For further information: http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org/
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