News Archives

November, 2002

Florida dolphins fall through the cracks

Dominica - While the world watched, debated and cheered for Keiko, of "Free Willy" fame, no one seemed to notice when four others of his kind were quietly shipped from island to island in the Caribbean, left to suffer and die. Why were four of our dolphins allowed to fall through the cracks?

The dolphins' miserable journey began in September of 2001 when, against the best advice of marine mammal experts and protests from animal welfare organizations worldwide, the Florida facility "Dolphins Plus" sent Isla, Tracey, Jessica and Kimbit to Tortola to be used in a swim program at Prospect Reef Resort. Though the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requires that any foreign facility importing dolphins from the US meet this country's standards, the four dolphins were instead confined to a small, filthy lagoon, overrun by waste runoff, oil, garbage and fuel from a nearby marina and surrounded by ceaseless noise pollution.

Then, after a year in this foul environment - while the world seemed to rally around Keiko - these sick and broken dolphins were passed around again, this time to the island of Dominica. Shortly after arriving on the island, Isla died and Tracey is known to be gravely ill.

All of the supposed safeguards to protect Isla and her companions failed. And the fact is that, for every one "Keiko" that retires to a natural environment, there are countless more "Islas" who never escape the bonds of captivity and lose their lives in the process.

The finger of blame points in many directions, but this doesn't change the fact that Isla is dead; Tracey may soon suffer the same fate; and the lives of three US dolphins hang in the balance. Advocates are not convinced that Dolphins Plus is acting in the best interest of these animals and it appears that US officials have little recourse. Currently in a murky holding pen, the dolphins are to be moved yet again as the swim program facility edges closer to completion. Reports from Dominica say that this could occur as early as December or January.