[Fwd: Don't let your dream holiday be an animals' nightmare]

-------- Original Message --------
 Subject: Don't let your dream holiday be an animals' nightmare
    Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 19:43:06 +0300
    From: "ECOTERRA Intl." <AfricaNode@ecoterra.net>
Reply-To: NATURAL_SEAS@ecoterra.net
      To: undisclosed-recipients:;

 ECOTERRA, ECOP, Cetacea Defence and the Captive
Animals' Protection Society are asking local ar groups to hold
information days at airports during July 1-8th
World Week For Captive Dolphins.

'Adopt an Airport' - worldwide campaign
If there is not an airport close by, we are asking groups to
do an information stall in their town centre:
On Holiday?
- don't support animal Cruelty!

We are asking that people, who are bound for foreign countries,
are made aware that they should not patronise dolphin shows,
circuses, zoos or have their picture taken with animals such as
dolphins, chimps or snakes.

We are asking you to adopt an airport on at least one
day during 1-8th July. We all acknowledge that it is important
to tackle this issue, where as an example a significant market to
Sea World is the UK one (estimated some years ago at 15-20%).

A special flyer and poster will be available from Cetacea Defence .
CAPS will supply their leaflets and posters on request at cost price.

ECOTERRA is sending you already a flyer (attached), which shall
be ditributed to all holiday makers bound for the Dominican Republic.
(pls request other language versions - german, french, spanish - from
ECOTERRA).

 Please let us know of your interest. Since animals in Shows, Zoos and
Circus ventures continue to suffer, the message to holidaymakers is:
Don't let your dream holiday be an animals' nightmare,
BOYCOTT ANIMAL ABUSE !

http://www.ecoterra.net
http://www.ecop.info
http://www.cetaceadefence.org
http://www.captiveanimals.org/index.htm

WE ALL JOIN TOGETHER - PLEASE PRINT THE FLYER
BELOW AND MAKE SURE EVERY TOURIST BOUND
FOR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC RECEIVES IT !
THANKS (and pls send your direct action report to Ecoterra!
A Wild Dolphin Holiday is waiting for the most active couple!)

Background Information on “Manati Park Bavaro” in the Dominican Republic

DREAM and REALITY
                   Advertisement by Manati Park: A
Dream: Fun event in a happy world Reality picture:
© Helene O‘Barry BUT The Bitter Truth: CAPTIVITY & SLAVERY

The Slogan of „Manati Park“ sounds nice:
„Manati Park is nature. Nature is Manati Park. Manati Park works to
protect what is ours: our Flora, our Fauna ... which belongs to us all.”

BUT:
Unfortunately the truth does not match that rose tainted picture, as
Manati Park has been in the centre of massive international criticism
already since 1999 because of it’s unacceptable holding conditions. Five
bottlenose dolphins are confined in this facility in small chlorinated
tanks, alarmingly inadequate for dolphins that normally swim more then
40 miles a day in the wild. The dolphins are forced to participate in
swim-with-dolphins programs three times a day seven days a week. They
are forced to pose for pictures outside the water in the scorching sun
and their slavers allow 200 customers per day to cling to their pectoral
fins while they have to circle around the pool in often dirty water.

More then 7.600 outraged tourists already officially protested, tour
operators and hotels stopped co-operation with that establishment and
international media aired shocking reports - even showing a dolphin
attacking a child in the pool because he was so overworked and
distressed. Such incidents of course are held back by Manati Park from
the public.

Manati Park was opened in 1995. Documents show an import of six dolphins
from Cuba and two dolphins that have been captured in local waters. The
current status is reported with five dolphins of Cuban origin, which
means that at least three animals have disappeared or died in that
facility, among them the two dolphins caught in local waters.

It is important to know that the Dominican Republic ratified several
national and international Agreements and is thereby obliged to adopt
co-operative measures to ensure the total protection of this endangered
species. Protection of nature is exactly what Manati Park is claiming to
do – but in the light of illegal captures and dead dolphins in that park
the reality is far away from the promotional goal. Therefore also the
United Nations Environment Programme investigates now.

In July 2002 Manati Park used an old permit issued in 1995 and captured
eight bottlenose dolphins in national waters. These captures clearly
violate the national Dominican Republic Law 64-00 Article 175 -
promulgated on August 18, 2000 - which prohibits the capture of
protected species. A separate article in this law in particular states
that permits are not valid if they are contrary to the principles of
the Law. In addition it is especially shocking to realise the
environmental crime, since the capture of these dolphins was done in a
specifically protected area - a national park – the Parque Nacional del
Este. Where these dolphins are is still unknown to the public since
their August capture and as Manati Park officially lacks the proper
facility to house these animals we must be prepared for the worst: Kept
secretly in a hidden tank in the backyard, exported or even dead!

A national and international protest movement has been organised to free
the dolphins. It is supported by the joint community groups of Bayahibe
(City council, church, environmental groups, etc.) intellectuals,
scientists and lawyers from the Dominican Academy of Science and of
course, representatives of local protection societies. As a tourist in
the Bavaro Region you have to be aware, that there is great local anger
against that tourist facility and now even a lawsuit is pending against
Manati park as well as against the state concerning the illegal capture
of these dolphins. The civil society of the Dominican Republic deserves
all our respect and support in the struggle for the freedom of thee
dolphins.

Please help to protect these magnificent creatures and feel the
responsibility to care – we only can intensively warn from a visit to
Manati Park Bavaro and kindly ask you to widely spread this alert also
among other tourists in the Dominican Republic. Please support the local
communities and the international struggle to finally end the suffering
of these dolphins at Manati Park Bavaro and join us and the thousands of
other tourists in demanding freedom for the dolphins.

MOST IMPORTANT: NO VISIT TO MANATI PARK – THE PLACE OF THE DOLPHIN
SLAVERY!

PLEASE HELP TO DISTRIBUTE THE FOLLOWING TOURIST ALERT AND THE LIST OF
RECOMMENDED HOTELS - also feel free to make double sided copies and
distribute them along the beaches and in the hotels –
YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS IN PUNTA CANA - BAVARO / DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC ?
THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU BOOK and consult this List of Fame and Shame:
A) THE GOOD
These Hotels have terminated business with Manati Park and registered
their protest against the illegal capture of dolphins as well as their
support of the demand to close the Manati Park dolphin facilities. WE
RECOMMEND:

Riu Melao
Riu Naiboa
Riu Palace Macao
Riu Taino
LTI Punta Cana Beach Resort

We applaud also the
Community of Bayahibe and the
Community of Boca de Chavón
for their proactive stand against Manati Park
and their nature conservation efforts.

B) THE BAD
WE CAN NOT RECOMMEND:
a) These Hotels have expressed their understanding for the terrible
situation or registered their protest against Manati Park, but they
continue themselves or allow within their premises business as usual
with Manati Park (this is based on clear and proven reports by our
independent investigators).

Iberostar Bavaro
Iberostar Dominicana
Iberostar Punta Cana
Bavaro Princess All Suites & Resort
Occidential Flamenco Bavaro
Fiesta Bavaro
Fiesta Beach/Palace Resort
Fiesta Dominican Hotel
H10 Bavaro Resort
Barcelo Villas de Bavaro
Barcelo Bavaro Village
Barcelo Bavaro Ocean Village
Barcelo Bavaro Palace
Barcelo Bavaro Beach
Barcelo Bavaro Casino
Barcelo Bavaro Garden
Barcelo Bavaro Golf
Natura Park Resort
Allegro Resort Bavaro
Melia Caribe
Melia Tropical

b) The management of these hotels is ignorant, their activities unclear
and they have not responded at all.

Secrets Excellence Resort Punta Cana
Hodelpa Caribe Club
Carabela Bavaro Beach Resort
Catalonia Bavaro Resort
Club Med
Punta Cana Beach Resort

C) THE UGLY
WE WOULD NEVER LET THOSE HOTELS HAVE OUR TOURIST DOLLARS:
These Hotels have not registered any protest against Manati Park,
continue to have business with Manati Park or even support their
activities.
Sirenis Tropical & Cocotal Beach Resort
Breezes Punta Cana Spa & Casino Beach Resort

D) THE DEADLY (PROTEST AGAINST AND AVOID THEM WHEREVER YOU FIND THEM !)
… and it is a SCANDAL that European taxpayers money was misused by the
EU to finance them.

Manati Park Bavaro
President & Manager: Sr. Jose Miguel Moreno Nigorra
Ctra. Manati, s/n Bavaro/Higüey
Republica Dominica
Tel. 001-809-221 94 44
Fax. 001-809-221 92 82
e-mail: manatipark@codetel.net.do

Manati Park mother company:
Inversiones Arrecife
President: Sr.Jose Miguel Moreno Nigorra,
resides at: Plaza Espana 1, Atico A
07002 Palma de Mallorca /SPAIN
Tel. 0034-971-712 185
Fax. 0034-971-726 947

UNCLEAR
We do up to now have no feedback for the following hotels and would ask
tourists for reporting if they notice advertisment for Manati Park in
those hotels, which clearly have expressed their intent to stop any
cooperation with Manati Park. (Please send any credible information and
updates to: FreeManatiDolphins@ecoterra.net !) :
Paradisus Punta Cana
Sunscape Punta Cana Grand

This list might change over time since more and more Hotels stop to have
any affiliation with Manati Park.

WE WISH YOU A PLEASANT STAY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND MANY
IMPRESSIVE MOMENTS IN THE FREE NATURE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!
 ECOTERRA Intl. www.ecoterra.net

see also: www.ecop.onfo (Pls support the
struggle and our tasks !)
Received on Wed Jun 25 21:45:34 2003