Solomon Dolphins Flown To Dubai Resort ff
22 October 2007
Solomon Islands
Two jet airliners carrying 28 live dolphins have left the Solomon Islands bound for Dubai, despite protests from environmental groups like EII, and their threat to boycott Solomons tuna industry.
The dolphins were loaded by staff of the Marine Mammal Education Center and Exporters, a company run by Canadian Chris Porter.
Director Robert Satu said the dolphins would be looked after with “great care†on their 30-hour flight to Dubai, and the export would pave the way for more lucrative shipments.
The sale was worth more than $1.2 million.
The dolphins are going to Dubai's new Palm Atlantis resort hotel, partly owned by ruling elites in the United Arab Emirates.It is unclear what the finally the consequences will be for exports by the Solomon tuna industry, which has always fiercely objected to the export, but were simply overruled by local politicians.
