Animal rights activists want dolphins destined for Singapore’s Sentosa Resort to be returned to Solomon Islands.
Report below from Solomon Star News.
Visit Facebook Group: I will boycott Resorts World Sentosa and its Marine Life Park.
INTERNATIONAL animal activities are urging the Philippine Government to return dolphins exported to them back to the Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands Mammal Education Centre and Exporters Ltd sent seven dolphins there last month. Another 11 left yesterday. These were sent there to be trained before they are re-exported to Singapore for entertainment purposes.
Twelve marine and conservation organisations around the world have written to the Philippines Government asking them to return the dolphins.
In a letter obtain by the Solomon Star, addressed to Edwyn B. Alesna, Chairman Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources/CITES in the Philippines, the group offered options or pursue legal action.
“We respectfully request your immediate action to:
1. seize and confiscate the seven dolphins already in the Philippines and, at the expense of the importer, prepare to return them to the Solomon Islands;
2. deny the issuance of any import permit for the additional eleven dolphins; and
3. immediately notify the Solomon Islands government that you will not allow the import of any additional dolphins from there until and unless it complies with Article IV of CITES and with the relevant requirements contained in Philippine law.
They said the import and export of wildlife and wildlife products is clear violations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the associated laws of the Philippines.
“On behalf of the undersigned organisations, we are seeking your immediate assistance to prevent ongoing violations of these laws. In addition, we understand that an additional 11 dolphins are scheduled to be exported from the Solomon Islands to the Philippines at any moment and that this shipment, if allowed to proceed, would also violate CITES and Philippine law,” the letter said.
Earth Island Institute Director based in the United States Mark Berman told Solomon Star yesterday’s the export is further atrocity against the dolphin populations of the Solomon Islands.
The 11 dolphins is going to Philippines and then to Sentosa Resort, Singapore.
“We will continue to fight for the freedom of dolphins and an end to this cruel trade,” Mr Berman said.
“At nearly 100,000 USD per dolphin, you can see that only certain individuals line their pockets with cash. The citizens of the Solomon Islands see none of this profit, and the dolphins belong to no one. “They are migratory and just happen to be in SI waters when they are taken prisoner,” he said.
He adds: “I would like to congratulate the Western Province for allowing dolphins in their waters to swim free from human abuse. This continues to allow Noro base and Soltai to be dolphin safe for their tuna products”.
Mr Berman said the Solomon Islands Government should know that the short term money from dolphin catch and export will in time dry up as the international community of environmental organisations works to end the markets for dolphin captures and exports.
——–
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
If you like this article, please consider a small donation to help theonlinecitizen.com stay alive. Please note that we can only accept donations from Singaporeans. Thank you for your assistance.Do you have a flair for writing? Volunteer with us. Email us your full name and contact details to theonlinecitizen@gmail.com
smallvice585 is right. Visitors, readers and commentators must realise and differentiate accordingly. Just because most of the comments here do not appeal to pro-PAP fans, it does not mean that TOC is anti-PAP or anti-Govt or pro-Opposition etc.
TOC is just a platform that levels the playing field in terms of allowing alternative voices to be vocalised.
smallvice, as a Singaporean, of course I have to say I am disappointed by what you said. By attempting to make our IRs a failure, you bring down with you billions of dollars, not withstanding the land wasted.
As I have said times back, the IRs isn’t just about gambling or vice. Families in Singapore, families everywhere can visit it. There is this Universal Studios over at Sentosa. Such attractions are family friendly.
Granted, if you want the casinoes to fail, I can see your point and will accept it. But actually lobbying for the IR as a whole to fail? Let me ask, what kind of citizen are you? Singaporeans can also get to enjoy. The one at Sentosa is for the family while the one over at the Marina is business friendly.
Can’t you change your statement?
~sigh~
I believe smallvice is following his principles just like most of us out there.
but panther, that’s a little out of line,questioning others on what kind of citizen are they. they just have a different belief and you have to do something like this. It is no small wonder why there are so many people out there who wants to chew your head off. in some of your post, you talk about exhibiting grace, but i am really not seeing it from you either.
We don’t question others on their loyalty etc when it is a differ of opinion. do you see the republicans/democrats do that? not in our face at least.
Mmm…on a side note, I wonder how successful will this IR be? I really can’t wait to see the results, but that’s still quite far off
SZ,
As I have said earlier, I don’t mind if smallvice wants the casinoes to fail. In fact, when the issue on casino first surfaced, I opposed it. I didn’t like it as I was afraid of the social consequences such a place will bring upon us.
However, IR is in Singapore. Wanting the IRs to fail is akin to wanting Singapore to waste away her resources. Right now, I am not questioning his loyalty to whatever political party. I agree that each and everyone of us have different principles and yes, guidelines whivh we adhere to.
I am questioning his loyalty as a citizen of Singapore, a Singaporean.
Nothing else.
panther
“I am questioning his loyalty as a citizen of Singapore, a Singaporean. ”
and nothing else? maybe you don’t understand and that’s exactly what i am talking about. you have gone out of the line questioning someone regarding his loyalty as a citizen.
So where’s the grace you speak about? even something like wanting SG to waste away the resource is not akin to disloyalty to the country young man. So we must not wish for IR to fail in order to be considered as loyal?before you step out to ask this type of provocative question, make sure you check it out first as this is a serious allegation and I am sure there are others out there who will take offense with the way you post it. it is due to your lack of tact and that’s why there are so many people out there who are offended by you.
and regarding “wanting Singapore to waste away her resources” i believe there are some *ahem* out there whose investment is wasting our resources too? although young panther here will say it is a paper lost, but to most investor, a paper lost is a lost until it is recovered.
Panther,
Contrary to what you think, it is precisely because of my loyalty to Singapore and in the name of Common Good that I want the IR to fail. I do not agree with you or the PAP government that the IR would be good for Singapore as a whole.
Moreover, the would-be failure of the IR project would be PAP’s and LHL’s liability. Perhaps, the IR project’s failure might provide the necessary force multiplier to rid Singapore of PAP’s hegemony – a potential possibility that would bring more Common Good to Singaporeans.
Resources wasted is also lesson learned.
Guys, guys,
Seriously. It’s not worth it. Just let Panther be. Ok? Can?
Hugs
Personally, i do not agree to importing the dolphins/whale sharks for some “dumb” marine park in singapore.
My reasons are:
1) these creatures do not belong to this part of the world. Never in Singapore. Leave them in the wild. If anyone wanna see them, go overseas where you can see them in their natural habitat.
2) the resort do not need to use this type of business gimmicks to attract “assuming more” visitors. Universal studios is a Big enough attraction. And besides, most visitors would say… be from Japan, Hongkong, Australia, New Zealand…etc, countries where those creatures live. They would have seen it. It’s kinda like nothing special to it. Why not just use Orang Utan or something (lol :p) since they are only in asia. Feels more unique.
3) I seriously doubt our expertise here to handle the dolphins…. worst, making them do shows. Having the pink dolphin is bad enough. And even if the resort hire some foreign talent expert to handle them, that still doesn’t make things right. Because, these mammals don’t belong here.
Erm… well, I don’t know why and how the remaining postings became a bit…. political. We’re talking about the dolphins yeah? :)
Anyway, I do hope the government or relevant authorities will play their part in saving these endangered animals and not only think about making money.