Aruba Marine Mammal Foundation

Ir. Luymesstraat 8
Savaneta
ph: (297) 592 4048
info@arubammf.com

Latest developments

Baby Dolphin at Malmok on March 25, 2008

(Photo by Greg Peterson)

A gift of Nature on March 18, 2008

"To all of you, The best gift on March 18th, 2008.   Our friends are back and free as always.
Let us keep them that way........"

Aruba's wild dolphins paraded inside the south-side reef early morning on, "Aruba National (Flag) Day", March 18, 2008, giving honor to Aruba's natural heritage and the 2008 UNEP proclamation of "the Year of the Dolphin". En route passing by the reefs, they were seen by campers before 8 am, who initially thought they were sharks.

Twelve of the Aruban wild and free rough toothed dolphin-pod   with a recent born calf  ended up spending the entire National Aruba Day inside the reef at Mangel Halto/Spaans Lagoon, to the delight of many seafaring locals. This area is one of the Aruba Marine Mammal Foundation (AMMF) 's designated "dolphin vulnerable" zones, besides Arashi, Malmok, and Palm Beach.   For the last 10 years, these are the hotspots where the Aruban wild dolphins choose to go for protection, when giving birth or recuperating from injury or sickness. Additionally, AMMF has observed in these zones:   mating behavior, vertical calf nursing behavior, surfacing in unison, breathing synchronously, feeding, logging, breaching, echelon swimming, horizontal carousel formation, belly flashing, adults teaching their calves, flipper-slapping, tail-slapping, and hunt-practice. AMMF works in collusion with international marine mammal scientists and NGO's.

The circumstance of these dolphins when inshore is totally different when they are bow- riding offshore with speeding boats.

It is very important for boaters when in the area of these "vulnerable zones", to avoid harm to these dolphins, and to assist in their survival, by not crossing through the pod, staying on a distance outside their zone, and not to make loud noises. Never attempting to feed the dolphins or throw litter in the water. Approach and depart in low speed. Never surround and enclose the pod with several boats. All boats must be on one side only in such a way not to block the dolphins' access for departure to open sea.

By adhering to this international code of ethics of "dolphin watching" in these coastal zones, and leaving the dolphins undisturbed, one will be able to enjoy observing wonderful natural behaviors of Aruba's unique wild dolphin culture, for generations to come.

AMMF advises, until more is known about this pod, NOT TO SWIM with the dolphins in these zones under these circumstances. Absolutely do not permit small children in the water. AMMF has experienced in the past that these dolphins nip and bite the plastic arm-floaters.

Only when necessary to investigate for injury, not more than 3 good swimmers may enter the water at the border of their zone (without jewelry and/or long nails), and calmly drift and permit dolphins to approach on their own. Never chase, grasp, or hold on to the wild dolphin!

AMMF appeals to the Aruban public NOT to confuse the wild dolphin's nature with the fictitious trained captive dolphins in movies and the dolphinarium-industry. The smile of the dolphin is a permanent anatomical feature, and does not necessarily mean the dolphin is happy. Tail slapping and teeth clapping are signs of anger and remaining for long periods under the surface indicates them feeling harassed.

Wild dolphins attack people when they feel threatened or stressed. Especially when protecting a recent born. They can drag you underwater, nip and bite, push you, and hit you (mostly aiming for your stomach). Known serious injuries include broken bones and ribs, and perforated organs.

The rough- toothed dolphins, Steno Bredanensis, are known for their high intelligence and ingenuity. They have been sighted in the 80's feeding opportunistically near fishing –trawlers, even using the hull of the fishing-boat as a tool. In 1988, The National Museum of Natural History, Leiden, Netherlands, conducted a research on a rough-toothed dolphin-pod of 12, in Mauritania, who similar to the case in Aruba, would enter the shallow waters of the island. A scientific research, on the rough-toothed dolphins and cetacean biodiversity, headed by George Mason University (associated with Smithsonian Institute), Washington DC, is planned to commence in Aruba this year.

Aruba Marine Mammal Foundation 's efforts for the protection of the Aruban wild dolphin's and their "vulnerable –zones" are conform with the objectives of: UNEP Marine Mammal Action plan; Aruba's Nature Protection Law Feb 13, 1995, AB 1995 no.2, AB 1997 no.34, Article 1, 4.2, 7.3; the "Cartagena Convention/ SPAW Protocol" (which Aruba is party of), article 4.2b,c,d; 5.2L, 6, 10, 11,12.

May Aruba's National identity remain one of respect for nature, of the wild and free!

(Photo: Nicole Arends)

DELFIN RENE TA FAYECE DI DUELE

Filed Under (Servisio domestiko) by Edgar on November-27-2007

http://gachitu.com/blog/?p=258

cUBAANSE dOLFIJN DOOD

26 Nov, 2007

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_37191.php
For english translation see "Latest Newspaper articles".

Dolphins exported from Cuba to captive facility
WDCS is very concerned to learn about a recent export of bottlenose dolphins from Cuba to the Curacao Sea Aquarium, a captive dolphin facility in the Netherlands Antilles.

AMIGOE.COM

Internationaal protest tegen import Curaçao van dolfijnen uit Cuba
22 Nov, 2007, 17:14 (GMT -04:00)
http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_37064.php

For english translation see "Latest Newspaper articles".

Save Japan Dolphins Coalition spares the Taiji Twelve from life in a marine park

The Japanese dolphin slaughter industry was dealt two big blows recently as they kicked off their annual massacre of dolphins and whales. First, the Dominican Republic cancelled the proposed export of twelve live dolphins ("the Taiji Twelve") from Taiji, Japan to Ocean World theme park. The government's decision came after a months-long campaign by the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition, of which IDA is a member, to stop the deal. Thank you to all of our members who wrote to the Dominican Republic's leaders in response to our alert in February, and for helping make this victory possible.

There is a definite financial connection between Japan's dolphin slaughter industry and the export of live dolphins for marine parks. The slaughter of dolphins for meat is subsidized by the high profit margin fishermen get from selling live dolphins to aquariums and "swim-with-dolphins" programs around the world. A dead dolphin is worth about $600 on the Japanese market for meat, while live dolphins sell for $50,000 or more.

The second blow came when Ric O'Barry (Marine Mammal Specialist for the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition and former trainer of TV star Flipper) joined champion pro surfer David Rostovich to lead a group called Surfers For Cetaceans to Taiji for a dramatic confrontation with the slaughterers. Six surfer-activists, among them Rostovich and Hayden Pantierre from the hit TV series "Heroes," paddled into the lagoon to where a pod of about 30 dolphins were held captive in a netted corral awaiting slaughter. Before they could reach the dolphins, they were cut off by fishermen who used their boat's propellers and a long boathook to keep the surfers at bay.

Even though the surfers were forced to retreat after about 10 minutes and the dolphins were probably killed, it was the slaughterers who ultimately tasted defeat. That's because producer Louie Psihoyos of the Oceanic Preservation Society captured the entire conflict on film for his documentary "Secret Dolphin Cove," scheduled for release next summer. Segments of his footage, as well as graphic dolphin slaughter, have already aired on major TV networks around the world, exposing the bloody horrors that the drive fisheries are trying desperately to hide from the outside world.

Watch some of these videos:

· Entertainment Tonight

· Sky News

· The Insider