Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

By Shelley Waterland

Born Free was recently informed that 12 indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins have been captured in the waters surrounding the Solomon Islands.  Reportedly destined for a life of captivity in the Middle East, we can only speculate the trauma that these highly intelligent animals had to endure through the process of capture, and will continue to endure in the name of entertainment.  Born Free is also very concerned that these captures were made without any robust scientific evidence to show that they will not seriously affect the conservation of wild dolphin populations (a requirement under CITES*).  Please check www.bornfree.org.uk regularly for updates.

You can help:
Please politely write to the High Commission of the Solomon Islands to express your concern about the dolphin capture.  Write to:

His Excellency Mr Joseph Ma’ahanua
High Commissioner
High Commission for the Solomon Islands
Avenue Edouard Lacombe 17B
1040 Brussels,
Belgium

Fax: 00 32 2 732 6885
Email: siembassy@compuserve.com

*Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.  CITES regulates trade in threatened animals and plants.

Born Free believes the days of keeping giant pandas in zoos in the UK should remain in the past, and Edinburgh Zoo’s plan is sensationalist and does not have the interests of panda welfare and conservation as its motive. We are calling on you to add your support to our calls for Edinburgh Zoo to abandon its plans to obtain giant pandas.

Please contact your Westminster MP, asking them to sign Early Day Motion 1588

and / or

Please contact your MSP, asking them to support Motion S3M-1906 and voice their concern regarding Edinburgh Zoo’s proposal.

The government motions can be viewed online at:
- http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35865&SESSION=891
- http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/business/motions/Default.aspx?motionid=13968

To find your MP, MP and MEP information here: http://www.writetothem.com/

Circus animals are subjected to a routine of frequent and extended transport for many months of the year, with regular loading and unloading, training and performance, and housing in small, restricted enclosures. These factors are likely to be stressful to the animals and have significant negative impacts on their welfare. Such conditions would not be allowed even in zoos.  In 2006, it was believed that 4 circuses toured Great Britain with a total of approximately 40 wild animals, which included an Asian elephant, tigers, lions, a black bear, zebra, pythons and Bactrian camels.  For more information click here

Please write immediately to your Member of Parliament urging them to sign EDM 965.

• Email your MP via www.WriteToThem.com
• Letters can be sent to your MP at:
  House of Commons,
  London SW1A 0AA
• If you don’t know the name of your MP, ring the House of Commons information office on 020 7219 4272.

Scotland and Wales - please also contact your MSP or AM to express your concern about this issue - Scotland and Wales have delegated powers to ban circus animals. 

• Scotland - find your MP at www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/index.htm
• Wales - find you MP at www.assemblywales.org/memhome/member-search.htm

Outside the UK - it would be extremely helpful if you took the time to write to our Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA to express your concern for circus animals