Date: Thu, 21 Mar, 1996
Dolphin slaughter in Peru
Nina Pardo: dolphins@amauta.rcp.net.pe

DOLPHINS ARE STILL BEING KILLED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

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We are CRUZADA POR LA VIDA (Crusade for Life) a non-profit association which goal is to protect and defend species that are considered vulnerable. We have been working on a Campaign to Save the Dolphins ,along the coast of Peru, from continuous butchery. High captures of dolphins have been registered over the last 20 years, specially in the last 8 years until 1994.

The scientific data from port surveys (*) done between the years 1991 and 1993 showed a total mortality of an estimated of 15,000 to 20,000 small cetaceans, this does not include, turtles, dolphins and purpoises killed = in drift nets. The slow reproduction cycle and high mortality rate puts this species in danger.

Our campaign has created pressure. Nowadays, the killing is done late at night, the organs are extracted from the animal inside the boat, the head and skeleton are thrown into the sea, and the meat, inside dark bags, is carried to the markets where it is sold immediately at sunrise.

This situation makes it impossible to carry on monitor activities. Thus, at this moments it is difficult to have an accurate number of deaths per day. A clandestine market has emerged; this situation can only be stopped by the authorities in charge.

CRUZADA POR LA VIDA is calling for stronger enforcement of the law and increase research.

The campaign focuses on two basic issues:
(1) DO NOT EAT DOLPHINS !

The method used in the killing of these animals USED TO BE by net, harpoon and/or beating. When brought alive to port, paper and plastic bags were forced in their blowholes to asphyxiate them. The throat was cut and they bled to death.

The Peruvian government passed a law in November 1990 that prohibits the extraction, process and commercialization of cetaceans, but the fishermen continued to kill them. For this reason we planned and organized this campaign.Crusade for Life is working not only to establish stronger legislation but also to make it effective.

Peru is one of the few countries in the world where dolphins are killed for human consumption. We have other alternative food sources at the same price or cheaper with great nutritional value. As the problem is based on supply and demand, our objective is to educate the consumer. We feel the killing will stop when the people of Peru are educated on this issue.

(*) Explotacin Ilegal de Pequeos Cetceos en Peru - survey done for the United Nations Environment Program Unit between the years 1991 and 1993.

(2) THANKS BUT NO TANKS !

We are also working against the captivity of these marine mammals. There is a luxury hotel here in Lima, the "Dolphin Hotel" still under construction by an important economic group of Peru, GREMCO, as its main attraction, they are building a tank for two dolphins. Peruvian law prohibits the "commercialization of cetaceans", concequently they are not allow to capture dolphins from Peruvian water. So this group is going to bring dolphins from Cuba.

There are several reasons for avoiding this kind of abusive project:

There is great potential for the development of ecotourism activities, that will permit us to appreciate these animals in their natural habitat. Peru has never before had a captive marine mammal industry.

Moreover the precedence that this project could establish is very dangerous and must be stopped.

OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE PERU A DOLPHIN SAFE COUNTRY.

We sent letters to President Fujimori with more than 7,000 signatures of Peruvian citizens demanding him to interfere in the construction of this project and to stop the killing of dolphins. Unfortunatetly our country has a vast history of corruption and little or none interest in this kind of problems. Undoubtly letters from International Institutions will make greater pressure.

Richard O'Barry was in Peru and is serving as volunteer consultant to Cruzada por la Vida. He is requesting that all dolphin protectionist's fax letters of protest to President Alberto Fujimori.

President Alberto Fujimori
Care of Cruzada por la VidaFax: (511) 440- 23 99

Your letter will be hand-delivered to President Fujimori
This is an URGENT ACTION ALERT
PLEASE RESPOND
Asociacion Cruzada por la Vida
Olga Rey de Michell - President/ Nina Pardo - Campaign Co-ordinator
Fax: (511) 440-2399 Phone: (511) 442-5741
E-mail: dolphins@amauta.rcp.net.pe
Mail address: Av.Pardo y Aliaga 689
Lima 27 - PERU

Date: Mon, 25 Mar, 1996

LIMA, Peru (AP) -- Congress has passed a law making it a crime -- punishable by up to three years in jail -- to kill dolphins and porpoises swimming in Peruvian waters.

The law, pushed by environmental groups, covers the catching of dolphins or porpoises, as well as the processing or selling of their meat. The Peruvian organization Crusade for Life, a dolphin protection group, says that an average of 76 dolphins a day are killed off the Pacific coast of Peru.

Peruvian fishermen hunt them for their meat, which either is served like steak or dried and served as an appetizer. Although dolphin hunting was already prohibited by Fishing Ministry regulations, the new measure, if signed by President Alberto Fujimori, would strengthen enforcement.

The Peruvian Center for Cetacean Studies says that of 46 species of dolphins and porpoises in the world, 18 are found in Peruvian waters.




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