25 November 2004 (continued...)

The Marine Connection today received a letter of confirmation from the Egyptian Embassy in London, advising us that the belugas are held in a separate area and do not participate in shows. However we are awaiting further news regarding the dolphin swims, as the management of Dolphinella are clearly in breach of instructions from CITES and as such the appropriate action must be taken as a matter of urgency. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Egyptian Embassy in London for everything they are doing to assist The Marine Connection in this matter and their courtesy when replying to requests for meetings and information.

YOUR HELP IS STILL NEEDED !

The Marine Connection are continuing our talks and correspondence with the Egyptian Embassy in London, CITES in Cairo and the CITES Secretariat in Geneva to ascertain the exact transport date for the exportation of the beluga whales confiscated from Sharm el Sheikh back to Russia.

After researching the information recently given to the charity, we discovered that the beluga whales are being held in a facility called Merryland which is in the wealthy district of Heliopolis, Cairo. While the pool area they are now being housed in is much larger than the cramped holding pool at Dolphinella in Sharm el Sheikh, the Marine Connection feel that it is not suitable to hold the animals there for any amount of time.

Margaux Dodds, Director & Co-founder of the Marine Connection, was advised that they plan to hold the two beluga whales at Merryland for approximately 3 months. We demand to know why it is taking so long to return these whales to Russia and to confirm that they will not remain in Cairo on display at this facility which currently has performing dolphins and one beluga whale. These whales should be returned to their place of origin.

What you can do to help us ensure these whales are returned to Russia;

Please contact the following demanding that the two whales from Sharm el Sheikh are returned to Russia as per assurances given to the Marine Connection by Dr El-Fellaly of CITES in Cairo. Ask why it is taking so long to arrange the re-exportation and why the animals are being held at this facility.

In the UK :
His Excellency Gehad Madi
Ambassador
The Egyptian Embassy
26 South Street
London
W1Y 6DD

email
Tel 0870 005 6715 (press 1)
Fax 020 7491 1542 OR 020 7355 3568

CITES in Egypt:
Prof. Dr Samy El-Fellaly
Head of the Egyptian Management Authority for CITES
Minister's Office
P.O. Box 12619
Dokki
GIZA

email
Tel 00 20 2337 2879
Fax 00 20 2337 6865

CITES Secretariat in Geneva:
Marceil Yeater
Chief of Legislation and Compliance Unit
CITES Secretariat
International Environment House
Chemin des Anémones
CH-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva
Switzerland

email
Tel 00 41 22 917 8464
Fax 00 41 22 797 3417