Stop the dolphin imports
Archive - January/February 2002

UPDATE: An application to import ten wild-captured bottlenose dolphins from Guinea-Bissau (West Africa) into Portugal for public display at the Lisbon Zoo has been refused by the Portuguese authorities to CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). This is good news, but we must not forget the application by Zoomarine to import wild caught dolphins from Cuba. Please contact the Portuguese authorities and ask them to refuse an application by Zoomarine, to import wild-caught dolphins. The original story follows.

Two applications have been made to import fourteen wild-captured bottlenose dolphins into Portugal for public display.

Lisbon Zoo and 'Zoomarine', in the Algarve, have applied to import 10 bottlenose dolphins from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa and four from Cuba.

Lisbon Zoo commenced a 'breeding programme' in 1995 with four bottlenose dolphins imported from the United States. Within just three years, two of the dolphins were dead. In July 1995 CAPS investigators visited Zoomarine. This is an extract from the investigators diary.

"Zoomarine Guia
This is a popular tourist attraction in the Algarve with transport arranged from hotels and resorts. They have 3 animal shows performing 4 shows a day Parrot show, Seal show and Dolphin show.

"Dolphin Show
7 dolphins, the oldest being 36. The crowd were told that 2 were pregnant, and the youngest 2 had been born there. The pool was approximately 50x20x20' deep, with holding pens at the rear. The show was presented by 2 trainers, the dolphins carrying out various tricks for fish rewards; jumping, waving to the audience, jumping through hoops, pulling the trainers along, trainers water skiing on them and pushing them up in the air. After the show the trainers stayed with the dolphins, which gave us the opportunity to observe the animals at close quarters. And we saw that some of the dolphins had their eyes partially shut for a large amount of the time."

We urge the Portuguese Authorities to forbid the import of the dolphins.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

	Please write or fax the following officials, requesting that the importation of any dolphins for the zoo and marine park is forbidden: Mr José Sócrates, Minister of Environment, Rua de O Século 51, 1200-433 Lisboa, Portugal (or fax 351.21.3232531). Mr Carlos Guerra, President of the Institute of Nature Conservation, Rua da Lapa 73, 1200-701 Lisboa, Portugal (or fax 351.21.3901048). Mr Carlos Magalhães, CITES office, Rua Ferreira Lapa 38 6º, 1169-138 Lisboa, Portugal (or fax 351.21.352280).
	Send a donation to help our campaigns - your contribution is vital.
	Become a CAPS supporter - you can help to make a difference.

Photographs © Captive Animals Protection Society