We just received this message from HEPCA in Egypt:
As an organization dedicated to the conservation of the natural resources of the Red Sea, HEPCA continually takes a stand on global environmental issues. To put it simple: it is the same planet and everything is connected, if things are impacted on the other end of the world, these impacts will eventually reach the Red Sea.
For this reason HEPCA has taken a strong position against the mass-slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, and their capture and exploitation anywhere around the world, which is not only a threat to biodiversity but bears heavily upon the livelihood of many communities due to the impacts on the entirety of marine ecosystems. Therefore we have campaigned and continue to do so against the Dolphinarium industry that is directly responsible for the above mentioned atrocities, as well as against those, who propagate and support them, whether tour operators, excursion retailers, hotels or even schools, who have had the audacity to support this vile industry.
We have clearly pointed out in the past that dolphins, which cover dozens of kilometres every day and live under a complex sophisticated social structure, should not be placed in a confined area in isolation from their community.
As expected we have received the sad news that two of the four dolphins in the Makadi Dolphinarium “Dolphin World” have died and that the remaining two are not performing due to undisclosed reasons. “Dolphin World” opened up its gates last April after the four dolphins arrived in Egypt on the 20th of January 2011.
We hope that this incident will finally convince the owners, supporters and pertinent government officials that Dolphinaria are harmful! Harmful to the dolphins! Harmful to Hurghada as a destination! Harmful to the environment! And therefore harmful to them!