Samui Dolphin To Be Set Free!

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Wildlife Friends of Thailand

 

Kao Look Chang Temple

 

Moo 6, Tambon Thamairuak

 

Amphoe Thayang

 

76130 Petchaburi, THAILAND

 

www.wfft.org

 

 

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

 

 

 

February 10th 2006

 

 

 

Samui Dolphin To Be Set Free!

 

 

 

A rare pink dolphin (Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin) kept at a resort on the

island of Samui in southern Thailand is to be set free on Saturday the 11th

of February after government officials found that the wild caught animal was

being trained to perform shows for tourists. The owner of the resort earlier

claimed the dolphin was kept at the zoo for medical treatment only after it

got " accidentally caught in nets of a fishing trawler " . The capturing and

trade of all species of dolphin is illegal under both Thai and international

law. The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin is categorized under appendix 1 of

the CITES (Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species).

 

 

 

A veterinarian and specialists of the Phuket Marine Biological Center, a

sub-division of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources are currently

preparing the dolphin for a speedy release back into the gulf of Thailand.

The dolphin has been kept at a swimming pool of a resort and zoo on the

island for over three months. The Wildlife Friends of Thailand and Thai

Animal Guardians Association who have both been campaigning for the release

of the dolphin are assisting the release efforts with financial help of Care

for the Wild International.

 

 

 

After the initial complaint sent by Edwin Wiek, director and founder of the

Wildlife Friends of Thailand, to various government agencies several weeks

ago it was the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources that acted swiftly

to rescue the dolphin. The DMCR Director-General Dr. Maitree Duangsawasdi

ordered his officials to study the possibility of a fast release for the

sake of the animal and the conservation of its species. On Wednesday the 8th

of February it was concluded that the dolphin was physically fit for release

and an appropriate release site was determined.

 

 

 

The rapid response and intervention by the DMCR to the complaints are a good

indication that conservation of endangered marine wildlife is taken

seriously and sends a clear message to people trying to exploit natural

resources that the law will be enforced.

 

 

 

 

 

Edwin Wiek

 

Wildlife Friends of Thailand

 

<http://www.wfft.org/> www.wfft.org

 

<edwin.wiek edwin.wiek

 

Tel +66-90600906

 

(Thailand 090600906)

 

 

 

Roger Lohanan

 

THAI AGA

 

<http://www.thaiaga.org/> www.thaiaga.org

 

roger2

 

Tel: 01-8080769