| Ukrainian protesters oppose illegal trade in dolphins
On January 16, 2008 animal protection groups protested outside the Ministry for Environmental Protection of Ukraine demanding an immediate stop to illegal trade in Black Sea bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates ponticus), highlighting loopholes in existing legislation and corruption within the Ministry that allows these dolphin captures to continue.
At a press conference held by Kiev Ecology Culture Centre, several animal protection groups accused the Ministry for Environmental Protection of issuing permits to allow dolphin captures. According to the animal protection groups the Ministry intentionally detained adoption of the “Rules for capture and rehabilitation of injured and sick dolphins” and marine mammals are currently being taken from the wild under the pretext of rescue and rehabilitation, but instead of being returned to the wild they are later sold to dolphinaria in the Ukraine and worldwide.
In August 2007 three healthy dolphins which appeared to have been taken from the wild, were seen at a sports club belonging to the South Operative Command of Military Powers of the Ukraine. According to documents inspected, the animals are the property of Nerum Limited - a company authorised with permission to "rescue" dolphins but only those who are sick or injured. Interestingly the same company has recently commenced construction of a dolphinarium in Kharkov. Protesters further revealed that the former Deputy Minister was involved in the transfer of the animals and on his last day in office as Deputy, he issued a further 10 permits to take dolphins from the wild. Despite protests from scientists and ecological organisations when these details came to light, the Ministry referred to the Commission of the Red Book whose members include botanists but have no members specialising in marine mammals!
Ukrainian ecological organisations have accused officials at the Ministry for Environmental Protection of Ukraine of inhumanity. They asked the new Minister, Mr Philipchuk, to revoke previous decisions made in relation with dolphin captures, to adopt the “Rules for capture and rehabilitation of injured and sick dolphins”, and to ban the use of dolphins for entertainment which violates Article 25 of the Ukrainian Law “Protection of Animals from Brutal Treatment“.
The new Deputy Minister Mr Lizun, assured journalists that the new Ministry will correct errors made by its predecessors and will investigate illegally issued capture permits.
Take Action
Write a polite letter to the Minister for Environmental Protection of the Ukraine asking him to stop the illegal captures and trade in Black Sea bottlenose dolphin and to comply with national and international legislation and regulations.
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Heorhiy H Philipchuk
Ministry for Environmental Protection of the Ukraine
35 Uritskogo str
03035 Kyiv
Ukraine
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