Prof. Dr Samy El-Fellaly
Head of the Egyptian Management Authority for CITES
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation
Minister's Office
P.O. Box 12619
Dokki
GIZA
Egypt

24th August 2006

Dear Prof. Dr. El-Fellaly,

On behalf of the Marine Connection, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your colleagues for finally organising the return of the remaining beluga whale from Merryland, Cairo, to Russia. It is disappointing that one beluga whale died during this process but we are pleased that the remaining whale has returned to Russia.

Respectfully, I would also urge the Egyptian government to now consider a ban on the display, capture and trade in marine mammals. Public knowledge of the negative impacts of dolphinariums on dolphins and humans is growing. Today, tourists are keen to visit areas which have ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly roots and marine parks are a stark contradiction to this. Developing marine parks in Egypt will be jeopardising the reputation of the country as a haven for wild and diverse marine life.

Egypt is currently in a unique position to ensure its tourist industry moves in an ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly way and the return of the beluga whale could signify a first step on this route. With its natural assets present in the Red Sea, Egypt has a chance to take advantage of this and expand on its diving community as well as diversifying with forward-thinking dolphin-watching programmes where education about their natural skills and habits can be carried out via genuine research and observation of their natural, wide-ranging abilities and conservation can be done in situ.

In view of this, I very much hope that we can continue to work together for the benefit of Egypt and its future. Your efforts to finally return the beluga whale to Russia are very much appreciated.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like any additional information or would like to discuss this matter further.

Yours sincerely,

Andrina Murrell
Captivity Officer