3 replies to this topic

[Reyhan]

I think this is some hopeful progress. I hope so. On the heels of the previous topics regarding captive dolphin parks in Turkey:

http://www.turkeycen...olphins-in-kas/

http://www.turkeycen...__fromsearch__1

CNN reports an update on Tom and Misha, who had been in one of the parks in Marmaris.

Free Willy trainer to Release Captive Dolphins- Ivan Watson, CNN May 5, 2012

[sunny]

Thanks for that Reyhan. It's good to hear that they are learning to catch their own food and hopefully they will successfully be returned to the wild.

Is there any news on the poor dolphins that are now in Kas?

[Reyhan]

Hmm if there is any news on the ones in Kas, It doesn't seem like CNN found out about it. But from what they say, it's hoped that this will indirectly help with the "awareness" of Turkey as a country of how harmful these "parks" are to dolphins and to the overall population. Also, so that this kind of occurrences are more strictly regulated and dealt with by the Turkish government and authorities.

I don't think Turkey has a branch of the government like the US Fish and Wildlife Service. But the US FWS probably wouldn't have recognized authority if they went over and tried to enforce, even though I would think bottle nosed dolphins likely fall under international species because their habitat is the ocean.

Then again Turkey wasn't included in the CITES treaty. But maybe it should be.

[Abi]

Thanks from me too on the update Reyhan. I hope is to see all the dolphin/whale/sea lion places closed down where ever they exist in the world sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, big money can be made out of these places so laws must be put into place and enforced to protect these creatures.