|
Captivity News
Solomons dolphin exporter wins court case
(Added: 18 January 2012)
The Solomon Islands High Court has ordered the government to pay more than a million US dollars in damages to a company for stopping its export of live dolphins.
Click here for further information
Unhappy Morgan at Loro Parque
(Added: 02 January 2012)
Concerns for the welfare of Morgan following her transfer to Loro Parque, Tenerife continue to grow as shocking footage recently obtained shows Morgan clearly being 'bullied' by the other larger (female) orcas.
Click here for further information
Solomons government to investigate illegal dolphin export
(Added: 06 December 2011)
Further to our recent report (see 04 December below), The Ministry of Fisheries in Solomon Islands has launched an investigation into the recent illegal export of live dolphins to China, flown from Honiara to Guangdong Province, bound for a marine mammal park as apparently the dolphin exporter did not have a valid export permit.
Solomon Islands dolphins flown to China
(Added: 04 December 2011)
Bottlenose dolphins captured from the wild in the Solomon Islands were recently flown to China for display purposes. The export was originally scheduled for September but was delayed after it was revealed that the local exporters' fishing licences had expired. It is not known yet if all the dolphins survived transportation or if any died enroute.
Morgan transferred to Tenerife
(Added: 29 November 2011)
Today, 29 November, the day sadly arrived that Marine Connection had dreaded would happen. Morgan, the young orca which has been held at a Dutch dolphinarium for just over a year was transferred by air to Loro Parque, an amusement park in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
Click here for further information
No justice for Morgan
(Added: 27 November 2011)
The Marine Connection are saddened by the ruling made by the courts in the Netherlands that Morgan, the young orca currently being held at Harderwijk dolfinarium will remain in captivity and will likely be moved to Loro Parque in Tenerife in the near future.
Click here for further information
Killer whale moved from Marineland
(Added: 13 November 2011)
The killer whale known as Ikaika at the centre of a court case recently between Marineland, Canada and SeaWorld US, has been removed from the Niagara Falls park with police hired on special duty to assist with the transfer of the whale. See previous story 2 October further down this page and link below.
Click here for further information
Morgan - a nervous wait
(Added: 08 November 2011)
Conservation groups have a nervous wait before hearing the outcome of the fate of Morgan’s, the young orca currently being held in captivity at a Dutch dolphinarium.
Click here for further information
Maldives facility plans questioned
(Added: 06 November 2011)
The Maldives government is to decide whether to lease a lagoon to hold captive dolphins. The Cabinet is deliberating on a paper submitted by the Finance Ministry to lease the lagoon, location unspecified, for a dolphin habitation and training centre - importing dolphins already bred in similar facilities. The Maldives' tuna industry has adopted a policy to ensure that no dolphins are ever killed in tuna nets, if they allow live dolphins to be imported into their country, the Dolphin Safe reputation of the Maldives will be jeopardized. Major tuna importing nations will not buy tuna from governments that harm dolphins.
India plans first aquarium-based theme park
(Added: 22 October 2011)
Although rumours have been circulating for some years, India may soon have its first ever aquarium-based theme park in Sindhudurg district, south of Mumbai and a few kilometres north of Goa.
Click here for further information
The real, sad story of Winter the dolphin
(Added: 16 October 2011)
The new movie 'Dolphin Tale' is supposed to tell the story of Winter, a young dolphin rescued by Clearwater Aquarium after her tail was removed in a fishing trap and it was feared the dolphin would not survive in the wild.
Click for further information and disturbing real video of Winter
New video orcas in captivity -v- the ocean
(Added: 13 October 2011)
As SeaWorld prepares for the next round of hearings in which it defends itself against charges by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) of “willful neglect,” The Orca Project has released a new video that reveals the differences between life for killer whale families in the wild and in captivity.
Click here for further information and link to video
Sad future for Morgan
(Added: 12 October 2011)
Dutch Agriculture Secretary, Henk Bleker, recently ruled that Morgan the orca whale that has been languishing in a stark holding tank at Harderwijk dolfinarium in the Netherlands for the past 15 months should be transferred to Loro Parque in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
Click here for further information
Captive orcas - a new report
(Added: 09 October 2011)
The Humane Society of the United States has released a paper by marine mammal expert Dr Naomi Rose outlining the arguments and scientific evidence against the public display of killer whales, on animal welfare grounds.
Click here for further information and to access report in full
Mastercard listens to pleas for dolphins
(Added: 09 October 2011)
The Marine Connection recently reported that Mastercard were running a promotion to purchase discounted tickets to Resorts World Sentosa who recently imported 27 wild caught dolphins from the Solomon Islands (see 25 September below).
Click here for further information
Dolphins killed in Taiji cove
(Added: 05 October 2011)
Rumours report that up to 50 striped dolphins have been killed in Taiji, the first slaughter for several weeks when some Risso's dolphins lost their lives to Japanese fishermen.
Click here for further information
Killer whale to be returned
(Added: 02 October 2011)
A whale of a custody battle may soon be over for Marineland, after an Ontario Court of Appeal decision ruled that the facility must return one of its whales back to the owners - Florida-based SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
Click here for further information
Mastercard's shame
(Added: 25 September 2011)
Mastercard are currently running a competition for cardholders to purchase discounted tickets to Resorts World Sentosa who imported 27 wild caught dolphins from the Solomon Islands.
Click here for further information
'Big Freeze' against captivity - update
(Added: 25 September 2011)
The 'big dolphin freeze' took place in London's Trafalgar Square on Saturday 24 September.
Click here for further information
Does captivity cause attacks on trainers?
(Added: 20 September 2011)
Former trainer says keeping killer whales in captivity causes attacks.
Read his full interview here
'Dog Whisperer' supports captive dolphin swims
(Added: 18 September 2011)
Sadly, Cesar Milan (aka the Dog Whisperer) recently visited a marine park in Cancun to swim with dolphins and endorses this on his website. Please add your commments asking him to recosider his position.
Click here for further information and to leave your comments
New Research Paper on Cetacean Cognition
(Added: 13 September 2011)
An new paper by Toni Frohoff and Lori Marino entitled where the authors outline the ethical and scientific arguments for phasing out cognitive research on captive dolphins and instituting a new paradigm of collaborative research with wild dolphins.
Click here for further information and to read paper in full
Cetacean scientists clash over dolphin issue
(Added: 27 August 2011)
An excellent new article featuring opposing views of neuroscientist and cetacean expert Lori Marino and dolphin researcher Diana Reiss.
Click here for further information
Hope for Morgan?
(Added: 03 August 2011)
Marine Connection was delighted to receive the news that, for the moment, Morgan will remain at the dolfinarium in Harderwijk rather than be moved to Loro Parque.
Click here for further information
CITES grant export permit for Morgan
(Added: 31 July 2011)
Time is running out for Morgan the wild caught orca as the dolfinarium has been granted an export permit by CITES to relocate her to Loro Parque, despite the abundant scientific evidence that captivity is a very difficult life for such a whale.
Click here for further information and to read new report
Who 'owns' a wild orca?
(Added: 21 July 2011)
The Marine Connection is extremely disappointed, but not surprised, to receive the news that Morgan, the orca currently held at Harderwijk Dolfinarium in the Netherlands may, in coming weeks, be moved to Loro Parque, a marine park in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
Click here for further information
Blood in the water
(Added: 19 July 2011)
On 24 December 2009 a 6,600 pound orca killed trainer Alexis Martnez at Loro Parque, a marine park in the Canary Islands.
Click here for further information
Parks battle over custody
(Added: 11 July 2011)
Niagara Falls theme park is refusing to return an orca to its owners, SeaWorld in the USA.
Click here for further information
Dolphins in captivity
(Added: 03 July 2011)
Dame Dr Jane Goodall recently has spoken out about this important issue, click below to see her comments in full.
Watch and listen to Dr Goodall's comments here
New expose on Tilikum/Seaworld
(Added: 23 June 2011)
"Killer in the Pool," an impactful expose on the Tilikum - Dawn Brancheau tragedy by Tim Zimmermann.
Read full report on our captivity section, click here
Help Indonesia's captive dolphins
(Added: 23 June 2011)
Colleague of the Marine Connection, Ric O'Barry urgently needs your help to stop many captive dolphins possibly being put back into the ocean without first undergoing a rehabiliatation programme which could be very dangerous for the animals' welfare and survival back in the wild.
Click here for further information and how you can help
Egypt reneges on promises for dolphins
(Added:11 June 2011)
The Marine Connection are concerned by recent decisions taken by the Egyptian government relating to captive dolphins in Egypt and urge you to help.
Click here for further information
Hurghada dolphin death
(Added: 02 May 2011)
Our colleage in Hurghada has reported to us that one of the 4 dolphins brought into the facility at Makadi Bay from the Ukraine has died during the quarantine period.
Click here for further information
Heightened concern for Morgan's future
(Added: 10 April 2011)
A representative of FreeMorgan.com recently visited the facility in Harderwijk which are currently holding Morgan, who has grown substantially since she was first captured, and was saddened to find her in a small pool (approx. 10m x 4m) an in about 4m of water.
Click here for further information and how you can help
How did SeaWorld start their Orca collection?
(Added: 03 April 2011)
Ever wondered how one of the largest owners of marine mammals in the world first obtained their orcas - footage reveals first captures.
Click here for further information and to view footage
Morgan on show to the public again
(Added: 28 March 2011)
Marine Connection has received news that, once again, Morgan the orca currently held at Harderwijk dolphinarium is on show to the public.
Click here for further information
Bottlenose dolphins awaiting release
(Added: 28 March 2011)
Marine Connection is delighted to report the news that approx 70 captive bottlenose dolphins are awaiting release back into the wide open sea under the supervision of Ric O’Barry, world reknowned dolphin advocate and campaigner.
Click here for further information
Update on Morgan's future
(Added: 06 March 2011)
As part of our on-going efforts on Morgan's behalf, we recently contacted CITES asking for answers to the questions which we had put to them.
Click here for further information
SeaWorld trainers to interact with whales again
(Added: 24 February 2011)
SeaWorld officials have said their trainers will get back into the tanks with killer whales for the first time since one of their colleagues was dragged into the water and killed by the 6 ton animal Tilikum last year.
Click here for further information
More dolphins arrive in Egypt
(Added: 23 January 2011)
Four dolphins have arrived at the new Makadi Bay facility in Hurghada, Egypt from the Ukraine.
Click here for further information
New report highlights orca captivity problems
(Added: 20 January 2011)
A new study paper just released by former SeaWorld trainers Dr Jeffrey Ventre and Dr John Jett looks at the question of keeping Orcas (killer whales) in a captive environment. Being former trainers, Dr Ventre and Dr Jett are able to discuss, with knowledge, the effects captivity has on these highly social, sentient mammals.
Click here for further information and paper in full
|
