Many people enjoy the wonders of Mexico, not only the resorts but the
dolphinariums that display captive dolphins. Few people know how these
dolphins suffer, or how unregulated, inhumane and horrific Mexico's
dolphin display industry is. Mexico is a major source of captive dolphins
for other countries and many dolphins die as a result of overall conditions.
The 11th of December 2005 marks the 36th Anniversary of Corky's capture,
the female killer whale held at Sea World, San Diego, USA.
2001 has been the worst year ever recorded for dead dolphins being washed
up on the shores around Devon and Cornwall
Marine parks deprive aquatic animals of natural habitats and interaction
with others of their species. Marine mammals such as dolphins and whales
are held in captivity for the entertainment and amusement of humans.
During the first week of November each year Japanese whaling vessels
leave the ports of Hiroshima and Yamaguchi in western Japan bound for
the Antarctic to catch another haul of Minke whales. Then later into
the North Pacific for even more destruction of the Minke populations.
Dolphinaria
in Mexico - A Critical Report
Many people enjoy the wonders of Mexico, not only the resorts but the
dolphinariums that display captive dolphins. Few people know how these
dolphins suffer, or how unregulated, inhumane and horrific Mexico's
dolphin display industry is. Mexico is a major source of captive dolphins
for other countries and many dolphins die as a result of overall conditions.
A
major campaign has begun to educate the public, create some laws and
force the industry to change and now you can read a report which provides
a first ever critical review of 19 of Mexico's dolphinaria and swim
with the dolphin programs. It documents how dolphins in Mexico are cruelly
captured from the wild to suffer short lives in unnatural environments,
trained even by starvation to perform and interact with tourists.
As
you will read in the report some examples of extreme cruelty in the
Mexican dolphinarium industry include: dolphins held in an overheated
pool on an Acapulco beach, dolphins inhumanely displayed in traveling
circuses around Mexico and belugas being held in a very noisy pool beneath
a roller coaster. The report calls for urgent action to be taken by
the Mexican government to regulate dolphin captures and displays and
to enforce legislation to regulate the nearly uncontrolled trade in
captive marine mammals for commercial profit.
During
1999 at least three bottlenose dolphins met their deaths while on display
in a traveling circus and these exhibitions continue to risk the lives
of the animals involved due to dangerous transportation, lack of veterinary
assistance and the difficulties of readapting to each new captive situation.
Although Mexico's captive cetacean industry displays a majority of bottlenose
dolphins, other cetaceans have also been displayed including Keiko the
famous 'Free Willy' killer whale. This whale was held for almost 11
years at the Reino Aventura dolphinarium before being transferred to
the Oregon Coast Aquarium for the first stage of his rehabilitation
program.
Fishermen
and the local strandings network on the Yucatan Peninsula have both
been involved in the capture of live dolphins and increased knowledge
about the lives of wild cetaceans has made it increasingly difficult
to justify the abuse and financial exploitation of these animals for
display in commercial dolphinaria. While the educational content of
dolphin displays is poor at best, facts about the cruelty of dolphin
captures and unhealthy captive environments are hidden from the public's
eye.
For
further reading and photo's on Mexico's dophinarium and swim programs,
read the full report at: http://elfi.com/csihome.html
The campaign hopes to make life better for dolphins in captivity and
to stop the international trade of dolphins from Mexico
Free
Corky
The
11th of December 2000 marked the 31st Anniversary of Corky's capture,
the female killer whale held at Sea World, San Diego, USA. Corky's family
makes a habit of visiting Johnstone Strait. She was only approx. 4 years
of age on that fateful day when amidst a violent storm the whale family
entered Pender Bay, British Columbia to be surrounded by nets and torn
apart. That the family survived at all is a testament to the tenacity
with which Orcas maintain their traditions. The remaining members included
adult females from each of four matrilines and over the years they managed
to rebuild the family, so today, two generations away from capture,
it is strong again.
Change
is obvious, however. In 1977 the oldest member, Corky's grandmother
A7 died then in 1990, Eve (A9), then Saddle (A14) in 1991. In 2000 Corky's
mum Stripe(A23) died and recently the pod's namesake Top Notch (A5)
himself. That now leaves Corky's aunt Licka (A8) as the sole living
member of the family Corky was born into. There are others in the larger
community that Corky knew and that knew her but of Corky's closest family
there is now just one.
Simply
put, that means that time is running out for this whale. Though the
A5 pod lives on and will continue, Corky's best chances of returning
to a normal life in the ocean lie with her ability to renew known family
ties. Our best hopes for understanding more about Orcas and there society
lie there also. A great and wonderful opportunity is being lost to us
all and the tragedy of Corky's fate is reaffirmed every day she remains
a captive.
As
Corky enters her 32nd year within walls, we renew our commitment to
her. We do not know where the key to Corky's freedom lies hidden but
we will continue to seek it and invite you all to join our quest. Please
check out the "How to help Corky" page and write a letter,
make a phone call or begin a new patch for Corky's Freedom banner ......and
please spend some of your time today thinking about Corky and what may
yet be. In doing so, you will joining the circle of caring for Corky
that already goes around our world many times. In that circle lies Corky's
best hope. Corky has been swimming around in concrete tanks ever since
that fatal day back in 1969. Let us not forget about her, EVER.
Corky's
page can be found at: http://www.orcalab.org
Campaign
Bycatch
In
five months alone, (Jan-May) over 59 stranded dolphins have been recorded
in Cornwall and more than 60 in Devon. These numbers could be the tip
of the iceberg with many coastal areas still inaccessible because of
the foot and mouth disease. Urgent action needs to be taken to curb
the mass destruction of dolphins in the fishing nets of pelagic trawlers
including the closure of fisheries if necessary. Head injuries, broken
teeth and jaws twisted are just some of the signs found on the dolphins
which are caused when the mammal become caught up in the fishing nets.
Dolphins have also been found with ropes around their tails which is
evidence that they were winched overboard after being hauled up in the
nets. Other evidence has also shown that these animals have been gutted
and punctured in an effort to sink the bodies to stop them being washed
ashore and being found.
The
sea bass fishery is thought to be the main culprit for hundreds of dolphin
bodies on the English coasts throughout the winter months each year
and there can be little doubt that these deaths are caused by trawlers.
Pair trawls are a particular threat to these animals because of their
speed and that they use two boats to tow nets of gigantic proportion,
they are so large that 12 jumbo jets could easily fit inside one net.
The UK is obliged under the Habitats and Species Directive to establish
a system to monitor the incidental capture and killing of all dolphins
and whales and to take action to ensure that the capture does not have
a significant negative impact on the species concerned but nothing is
being done to prevent this problem.
The
winter of 2001/2002 will see more dolphin deaths along our UK and European
coasts so lets help these animals now. The UK Fisheries Minister, Elliott
Morley has admitted there is indeed an increased problem for dolphins
being caught in nets around the UK shores. Many politicians in the UK,
Ireland and other European States are now actively involved in helping
to stop this destruction of dolphins. Will you?
Dolphins and Whales in Captivity
A
study in 1985 revealed that of 32 killer whales examined after dying
in aquariums around the world, half had died of bacterial infections,
and one quarter of pneumonia.
53%
of those dolphins who survive the violent capture die within 90 days.
The
average life span of a dolphin in the wild is 45 years; yet half of
all captured dolphins die within their first two years of captivity.
The survivors last an average of only 5 years in captivity.
Every
seven years, half of all dolphins in captivity die from capture shock,
pneumonia, intestinal disease, ulcers, chlorine poisoning, and other
stress-related illnesses. To the captive dolphin industry, these facts
are accepted as routine operating expenses.
In
many tanks the water is full of chemicals as well as bacteria, causing
many health problems in dolphins including blindness.
When
a baby dolphin is born in captivity, the news is usually kept secret
until the calf shows signs of survival. Although marine mammals do breed
in captivity, the birth rate is not nearly as successful as the one
in the wild, with high infant mortality rates.
Wild
dolphins can swim 40 to 100 miles per day - in pools they go around
in circles.
Many
marine parks subject their mammals to hunger so they will perform for
their food. Jumping through hoops, tailwalking and playing ball are
trained behaviors that do not occur in the wild.
Confined
animals who abuse themselves (banging their heads against the walls)
are creating stimuli which their environment cannot supply. Dolphins
in captivity tend to develop stereotypical behaviors (swimming in repetitive
circle pattern, with eyes closed and in silence) because of boredom
and confinement . This is equivalent to the swaying and pacing of primates,
lions, tigers and bears confined in cages.
Dolphins
are predators of fish and spend up to half of their time in the wild
hunting for food. Supplying dead fish results in less exercise and lack
of mental stimulation, thus causing boredom.
When
trapped together, males often become agitated and domineering. This
creates pecking orders (unknown in the wild) and unprovoked attacks
on each other and the trainers. In the ocean, although fights are not
unknown, the wild dolphins have a chance to escape.
You
can help by informing your Senators and Representative of your feelings
on this issue. Be aware of articles about captive marine mammals in
newspapers and magazines and be prepared to respond with letters to
the editor. Let marine parks and aquaria know your position on capturing
marine mammals from the wild and ask them voluntarily to discontinue
this practice. Consider a grass-roots effort to enact state legislation
that prohibits the display of newly caught marine mammals.
Please
join with The Humane Society of the United States, to add your voice
to on-going efforts to protect all animals. We must continue our work
to strengthen existing laws that protect marine mammals and to change
the practices that harm them, in this country and abroad. Write to The
Humane Society of the United States at 2100 L Street, NW, Washington,
DC 20037 or call us at (202) 452-1100 for more information.
LFAS sonar - Over the Whale's Dead Bodies
The
Navy's application for a permit to kill more whales and dolphins has
been meeting some tough opposition. Low Frequency Active Sonar is so
loud that whales are killed by this sonar device which is billions of
times louder than a 747 taking off.
As
human beings we take the ability to navigate from visual cues for granted.
For marine life living in the deep oceans, light's equivalent is sound.
In the ocean waters, where the surroundings are dark and silent - marine
life will listen and by this means interpret an environment. A setting.
A distance. Another species. A possible mate. An ominous shoreline.
A calf calling out to it's mother. These magnificent interpreters of
sound are able to detect minute objects at significant distances. The
approach of an enemy is detected. Or the distant singing of a remote
acquaintance is perceived.
This
world of navigated sounds is vanishing. And as a result, marine life
is dying. We are witnesses to the acoustic dirge. And we can hear it
daily, if we are willing to listen. But there isn't much time to simply
listen. We must act now! Soon a decision will be made about whether
to allow deployment of the Navy's proposed SURTASS LFA Sonar.
Acoustic
pollution has been escalating through the advancement of technology
with a casual disregard to the needs of these aquatic beings. Engine
noises contribute to this noisy clatter in the oceans. And that is a
part of the problem. Big cities create a rumble, which is disruptive
to the ocean environment. All factors combine. But now, there is an
immensely powerful military device, which could shatter and destroy
the remaining silence.
A
new, devastating, highly controversial and intensely powerful technology
signals the escalation of acoustic weaponry and acoustic markets in
this underwater towed array with 18 speakers. Large corporations stand
to profit immensely as nations co-invest in the an underwater Star Wars
technology which blasts acoustic scatter beams in all directions until
they echo back to a convergence point. Pressure waves form. Invasive
sound patterns disrupt breathing and normal singing between whales and
dolphins. And hundreds of miles from the source, the decibel level is
sustained at potentially harmful volumes.
The
rationale in the mind of the US Navy is that we need defenses. The Navy
says it seeks to protect "American Interests." Those interests
are defined in accordance to the perceived threat of silent submarines.
Let
the Navy know that "American Interests" do not justify the
indiscriminate killing of massive numbers of seals, dolphins, sea lions,
whales, and walruses and the devastation of the eco-marine environment
out of a "cold-war" mentality of exaggerated fear. Other intense
sonar technologies have resulted in dire numbers of stranded whales
in at least seven massive stranding incidents in recent years. The Navy
says this new technology won't kill. And yet, this technology is SURTASS
LFA Sonar - and it is the most widely renown and widely opposed of all
the invasive acoustic technologies in the history of the planet. And
your appointed officials at National Marine Fisheries Service may soon
issue a letter of authorization which will allow this acoustic pollution
to be introduced to 80% of the world's oceans. If the US approval goes
through, it's expected that other countries will follow. More information
can be found at http://www.oceanmammalinst.com/
Japan Defies International Law By Continued Whaling
Where
are they going?
Into the "Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary" a place designated
by International Law for the protection of all whale species. The Antarctic
and its inhabitants are also protected by the "Antarctic Treaty"
of 1959 to which Japan is also a signatory! During yearly meetings of
the world's whaling organization, to which Japan is a member, resolutions
on the rules of whaling are made and each year: strong resolutions are
passed to make it more difficult to justify "scientific" whaling
and to discourage "scientific" whaling in sanctuaries.
Through
an old rule implemented many years ago, and designed to get whalers
to care a little about the well being of the herds of whales instead
of the profits they made, Japan is by-passing the "Moratorium on
Commercial whaling" by calling their hunting "Scientific".
Their scientific whaling killed 440 whales last season while Norway's
declared "Commercial whaling", which is banned, killed about
the same amount.
Further
investigation reveals that Norwegian whalers sell their whale meat to
markets within their own borders, for their own consumption, and call
it "commercial". Japanese whalers sell their whale meat to
markets within their own borders, for their own consumption, and call
it "scientific". So what's the difference?
Japan
says it needs to know what the Minke whales are eating. So they have
to kill the animals to look inside their stomachs. Since the whale is
now dead and guided by a rule (one that they want to follow) they bring
the whale meat back to Japan and sell it so that it is not wasted. If
Japan didn't kill the whales to start with they wouldn't have to dispose
of them. Truth is we all know what whales eat, you only need read a
book. Japan sells the meat to help fund the research.
Send
a protest to:
Prime Minister Mr Junichiro Koizumi
Prime Minister's Office
6-1 Nagata-cho, 1-Chome
Chiyoda-Ku
Tokyo 100, Japan
100-0014
"Dear Prime Minister,"
email: jpm@kantei.go.jp
