Born Free Team in negotiations for Misha and Tom's release
- Born Free's vet consultant, John Knight, examining Tom.
A Born Free team, including Donal MacIntyre, investigative journalist and co-anchor of ITV's' 'London Tonight', returned from Turkey on 10th August where they continued vital negotiations in an attempt to secure the release of Misha and Tom, the two dolphins held in a tiny pool in Hisaronu.
Alerted to their plight by local group 'Dolphin Angels', Born Free flew in a team of experts. The first part of the negotiations involved securing access for Born Free's vet consultant, John Knight, and Mark Stevens from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, so they could assess the dolphins' health. After hours of discussion, the team were allowed in the pool and, with assistance from the Dolphin Park personnel, managed to catch Tom and carry out all necessary health-checks including taking blood which will now be analysed.
Unfortunately the onset of darkness prevented an attempt to catch Misha whose balance appears to be impaired and she is 'leaning to one side'.
Sadly, at this point time, negotiations have stalled as no agreement could be reached with Dolphin Park which would have resulted in the transfer of the dolphins to a seapen from where a rehabilitation programme could be attempted.
The two dolphins have now been in the 25 x 15 metre pool for two months and the water has become increasingly polluted to such a degree that both John and Mark are now on a course of anti-biotics following their time in the contaminated pool.
Negotiations continue with greater urgency than ever because of fears for the welfare and health of the dolphins that is deteriorating. Alison Hood, Born Free's Campaigns Director said "Born Free will do everything it can to resolve this situation but it is a highly complex situation and there are no guarantees. Our ultimate hope remains the release of these two dolphins - who were both wild-caught in 2006".
Follow the plight of Misha and Tom here, and do not pay to see or swim with captive dolphins when you are on holiday. Tom and Misha don’t stand a chance unless we all work together. Sign our petition and support Born Free's work. We will be in touch.
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See below for the background to the story.
Stop their summer of misery
- Helen Worth with Misha and Tom © BFF
- Misha and Tom © BFF
- The tiny pool © BFF
Born Free patron Helen Worth visits dolphins Misha and Tom and calls for their release from Hisaronu.
Behind the blue tarpaulin which screens their concrete pool, Misha and Tom drift aimlessly around and occasionally bob up for air. There's nothing else for them to do.
They arrived in Hisaronu in June 2010, reportedly transported there, without a supportive sling, in the back of a fruit and veg van.
Together with their owner Aleksandr Kuznetsov, they are now in limbo. With no license to operate, the dolphinarium is not open to the public. But already tourists and local people are speaking out against this facility. With major tour operators committed to boycotting the facility and the public getting behind Helen's'campaign in The Sun along with the Facebook campaign - will public opposition be strong enough to end the suffering of these dolphins?
As long as people are prepared to pay to see captive dolphins then opportunistic facilities like this will continue to spring up. But at what cost to the dolphins?
Born Free has proposed directly to the owner that he consider entering the dolphins into a rehab programme, if experts consider Misha and Tom suitable candidates.
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