18 dolphins from Solomon Islands destined for Singapore are stranded in Subic

Tonette Orejas, Philippine Daily Inquirer 5 Feb 10;

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Eighteen bottlenose dolphins imported from the Solomon Islands are stranded at the Ocean Adventure Park in Subic Bay Freeport, where they are being trained for a resort in Singapore for more than a year now.

Supposed to be exported by the end of 2009, the dolphins continued to be in the care of the Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium (SBME), which was contracted for the training program.

It may take long before the marine mammals are sent to Singapore because the facilities there are unfinished, according to a source familiar with the case but who was not authorized to discuss it.

Trixie Concepcion, Philippine representative of the Earth Island Institute (EII), said reports reaching the group indicate that the animals will be “moved soon” via Malaysia by the owner, which she identified as the Resorts World of Singapore.

The EII, she said, has been contesting the importation of dolphins for violating the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).

SBME president John Corcoran declined questions on the issue, saying “current contracts are on a nondisclosure basis.”

“All of the animals in our care are well,” he said when asked about the condition of the 18 dolphins.

The SBME, he added, “continues to be recognized as an international expert in the field of marine mammal care, training, education, conservation, study, rescue and rehabilitation.”

Concepcion said seven of the dolphins arrived on Dec. 8, 2008, on a chartered plane from Solomon Islands.

The importation of the 18 dolphins was covered by international and local permits, said Edwyn Alesna, chief of the fisheries quarantine and wildlife regulatory section of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

“Those were legally imported,” Alesna said in a previous interview.

Alesna had said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap signed the local permits. All 18 dolphins are “not for the [Ocean Adventure],” he said.