Prepared by Chris Porter-Founder
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FREE THE POD RELEASE OF CAPTIVE DOLPHINS After eight years of exporting dolphins, Dolphin Dealer Chris Porter, announces plans to free remaining dolphins and give up trade. In January 2010, after eight years of exporting dolphins, I announced my plans to release the remaining dolphins in our facility. This is the largest planned release of a group of captive dolphins in the history of the captive industry. This change of heart came about through multiple reasons; with the first being the realization of how important family groups are for dolphins. One day I was preparing a net to put into the water to separate two calves from their mothers for breeding purposes. As I was planning the logistics I looked into the water and watched the two calves, who were over 2 years of age and able to eat on their own, still bump and follow their mothers as they first did when they were born. At that moment I realized it should be their choice when their family group is separated, not mine. As a parent who has spent much time separated from his family, due to my work, I realized the impact that my actions have been causing and set out to do something about it, Free the Pod was my answer. In February, Tillikum a killer whale I trained over 21 years ago now residing in Sea World, killed his trainer during a show session. I realized that we as man had not yet been able to provide everything for Tillikum that he needed and his reaction to lash out at the situation produced a tragic death. Tillikum spent a lot of time separated in his life and is an example of a victim of the captive industry. If he was never separated from his family group this would of not have had to happen. Choice is the freedom Tillikum and other captive animals are entitled to.
So what is next...
As somebody that was active in the supply of dolphins for aquariums, and as somebody responsible for the separation of many family groups of the clans of the seas, it is my turn to give something back to right the wrongs of the past. Free the Pod is the start of that change. The pod will be given the choice where they wish to live their lives and how they wish to interact with man. Successful release of the animals will then became an example to the Solomon Islands on how live dolphins in the wild can benefit the country. The campaign will then move on to a National Reserve plan for Marine Mammals in the Solomon Islands., giving them protection throughout the country. FREETHEPOD.org
Photo Credit: Takuji Oyama
Chris Porter Has been training marine mammals around the world for over 21 years. Consulting for the National Aquariums of Italy and Canada as well as a number of private facilities. He founded the world’s first open ocean sea lion dive program in the world. He has spent the last 9 years in the Solomon Islands building Dolphins Paradise Resort.
Prepared by Chris Porter-Founder
F REE TH E P O D
Photo Credit: Eye in the Sky
Why Export in the first place? Dolphin Hunting in Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands have been killing dolphins for their teeth and meat for hundreds of years. In some parts of Solomons still today, 1000 dolphin teeth are needed to present to the bride’s family for dowry payment. The hunting of the animals occurs every year between December and April during the Cyclone season when the sea remains calm during most of the time. Hunters paddle their canoes up to 10 miles in the open ocean and form an acoustic net around the dolphins using stones. The animals are driven to shore where they are killed in shallow bays. The jaws are cooked in ovens to remove the teeth in respect and memory of the dolphin. The teeth are than used as decoration and a sign of great wealth in the Solomon Islands culture. One tooth is worth over $5US with their value increasing each year with population increasing and hunting decreasing.
When I first arrived in the Solomon Islands I spent time within the dolphin hunting communities that still utilize dolphin teeth as currency in their culture. I talked to them about dolphins and what they meant to them. As sea people who moved from the bush and created artificial islands of coral to live on, dolphins became their treasured source of currency and food as only the sea people had the skills to paddle the great distances necessary to bring the dolphins to shore. I began to realize that still in this modern age, the teeth and meat were viewed as items of barter and used for trade for other resources not available to the sea people, such as vegetables and fresh water. Upon my arrival a dolphin was worth $20US dead. As somebody that was active in the aquarium industry and truly believed that captive animals were ambassadors of their wild counterparts and intricate in the education process of aquarium visitors, I was aware that the value of live dolphins was hundreds of times more then the current valuation of a dead dolphin. I sat down with the dolphin priests of the communities and shared my vision of keeping dolphins alive that could be used as an alternative source of income for the tribes. This could financially provide more DOLPHIN TRANSPORT UNIT barter power. In the last Photo Credit: S2 eight years I have been involved in the export of 83 dolphins, increasing their value to over $150KUS per dolphin. I no longer can justify the increased financial reward or educational value of removing family members from the clans of the seas. Thus Free the Pod!
FREETHEPOD.org
Prepared by Chris Porter-Founder
F REE TH E P O D
Photo Credit: Eye in the Sky
The Release Plan To date all the animals are together and live currently in one large natural cove of Gavutu Island. The end of the cove is closed off with a floating dock supporting a protective net. Living together is strengthening the pod’s relationship and enforcing the structure of the pod. The animals are being fed by hand two times a day in order to observe their health and body condition. Additional feeds have been introduced where food is simply thrown into the habitat. This “scatter feed” method is the same method of acclimating the animals once they have been collected in the wild. By simulating a large school of fish the animals quickly adapt to eating the dead fish. Our dolphins have hand fed within 2 days of being caught. Upon their release the animals need to be self-dependent in locating and eating live fish. To accommodate this process, we are developing a live bait system that will attract live fish to a cove located right beside the pod’s current home. This second cove is accessible through a channel between the two coves. At first the live fish will be netted and fed to the dolphins by hand to assess each individual’s ability to eat live fish. When all animals are able to eat live fish, the channel to the other cove will be opened during live fish bait exercises. Animals will then be encouraged to hunt and eat the live fish kept within the second cove. Throughout this process hand feeding sessions will be reduced but will be used intermittently to assure body assessment of the animals is able to occur.
Photo shows main cove where dolphins currently live. Second cove for live fish is located to the left.
After successful live feeding trials and proof that the animals are maintaining sufficient body weight through only live feed fish trials, the protective net of the second cove will be removed. Live fish attraction sessions will still occur to give the animals a secure food source during the transition process. The channel between the two coves will be kept open, giving the animals the choice between the open ocean and the protective cove they are currently housed in. Throughout the release process the animals will undergo scheduled medical exams to assure their health and ability to adapt to the wild is optimized. Measurements of the animals and body weights will be calculated for long term research purposes. The animals will be individually identified through microchip, dorsal fin photo id as well as a brand on the animal for long visual identification process. As part of the ongoing research program for marine mammals in the Solomon Islands, some of the animals will also be equipped with GPS tracking units. These units will be discreet in order not to disturb the natural swimming pattern of the dolphin. The data received by these tracking units will be incorporated into an education display on Gavutu Island to show visitors where the animals are and what they are doing. A consortium of research groups, conservation groups as well as interested researchers is being formed to incorporate a number of research studies on the animals throughout the whole release process. In order for the release to be a success it needs to have the cooperation of the scientific community. This will enhance our knowledge base on the ability to release captive animals back to the wild.
FREETHEPOD.org
Prepared by Chris Porter-Founder
F REE TH E P O D
Photo Credit: Eye in the Sky
Campaign Budget There are three main components of the Free the Pod campaign budget; 1) Release program of dolphins- $400K 2) 5 year follow-up research of dolphins released- $850k 3) Community alternative developments- $850k #1 Release Program- consists of all the necessary costs to prepare the animals for the release. The projected release date provided funding and protection of the animals secured is August 7th. The expenses covered but not limited to are; live fish aggregates, feed for the dolphins, animal handlers, security, medical exams, research equipment and follow-up studies of the animals during the acclimation process. #2 Research follow-up - as part of the protection of the dolphins in the wild, the Ministry of Fisheries and Environment have agreed to protect the animals for research purposes for the Solomon Islands. One important research aspect is the follow-up of the pod once they are released. This funding will provide the country with the necessary equipment and staff requirements necessary during the 5 year research project. #3 Community Alternatives- many villagers and communities have become dependent on the funding they receive through trade with the company. This in the past, was easily accomplished through revenues generated by dolphin export. To assure community support for the release of the animals, alternative livelihoods must be developed. Community project requests are being received and reviewed.
C A M P A I G N B U D G ET
Community Benefits Dolphins Paradise has assisted the Communities in Solomon Islands with the export of dolphins. From employment, to buying local building materials, to church and sport sponsorships etc. Free the Pod is right for the dolphins but the campaign is also designed to continue to benefit the communities through alternative activities that do not involve the capture or hunting of dolphins. To show how best to live in balance with the clans of the seas.
Breakdown budget available upon request
Total Campaign Budget 2.1million Spread through 5 years. Dollar amounts in US thousands)
Next 3mos
After 6mos
After 1year
After 5years
Release of Dolphins
400
-
-
-
Research Equipment
200
50
50
50
Research Funding
100
-
100
300
Community Projects
350
100
200
200
Total
1050
150
350
550
FREETHEPOD.org
Prepared by Chris Porter-Founder
F REE TH E P O D
Photo Credit: Eye in the Sky
Conservation Plan
Solomon Islands located on the Coral Triangle is the World’s Largest Natural Aquarium. The preservation of its beauty from over exploitation of its resources through overfishing and lack of legal protection is a long term goal of Free the Pod in lobbying for SI to join the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary.
The Solomon Islanders have one of the most diverse relationships with dolphins on the face of the earth. Traditionally for hundreds of years they have hunted and killed these animals for their teeth and meat. In the last nine years, export opened understanding that their dolphins were valued around the world and could provide a large source of income. Now they are about to become part of the most historical dolphin release in history. This should not come as a surprise to us that understand that life is a journey of changing opinions and ideas based on knowledge and understanding of the world we live in. Society must come to agreement on how we are going to live in
Island Development Plan Steps have already been taken in the transition period of Gavutu Island to be independently operating without a captive dolphin population. A 150 passenger ferry has now scheduled regular drop-off at Gavutu Island on-route to Auki. This scheduled first class service opens up the door way to the Tourist City Marina envisioned for Gavutu once the dolphins are released. Areas of the island will
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balance with the clans of the seas. Whaling, captivity, pollution, fishing, degradation of natural habitats is having an alarming impact on whales and dolphins around the world. It is time that we as humans come to grips with the impact we have on these animals. I, realize now, the impact I made on them. With your assistance and support I can assure that this impact is used as a lesson for others to avoid not repeat. remain as a protected sanctuary. Support for the dolphins, if needed, will be provided by the release team. A dedicated dolphin conservation museum will feature Free the Pod research as well as an archival look at Dolphin Hunting with the Solomon Island Culture. Modern interpretative demonstrations, including a virtual aquarium concept, will be designed to further the Island Tourism Plans. Additional programs will be developed.
Prepared by Chris Porter-Founder
F REE TH E P O D
Photo Credit: Eye in the Sky
The Future Free the Pod is working with a number of organizations and entities to fulfill a successful release campaign of the dolphins. The success of Free the Pod will assure the acceptance of the evolution of marine mammal conservation in the Solomon Islands continues. By having entire communities benefit through preservation of whales and dolphins within the Solomon Islands, we can assure unity remains between the clans of the seas and the clans of the lands. Free the Pod is currently continuing the drive for sufficient funding of the entire program. This incredible transition of utilization of dolphins within a decade of Solomon Island culture is a large task to achieve. Through the support of people dedicated to the conservation of our environment, through proper stewardship of all its resources, we are certain we can attain our goals. Please contact us for any information on how you wish to help us in this incredible Dolphin Project. FREE THE POD !
God Parents • Free the Pod is in discussion with celebrities and concerned citizens that wish to spread the word of the Free the Pod Campaign. The program sets one God Father and One God Mother to each dolphin to be representative of the dolphin as a true ambassador of its wild counterparts.
Partnerships Recently Free the Pod was fortunate to be visited by Ric O’Barry of the Academy Award documentary, The Cove. Ric toured the facility with myself and said the facility was beautiful and the animals secured. Earth Island, his employer, kindly donated 10k to the Free the Pod campaign and is working on additional fund raising campaigns to assist Free the Pod. We appreciate the support Ric O’Barry has given and incorporating some of his ideas and plans into the release.
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left-Lincoln O’Barry (son of Ric O’Barry of the Cove) with Chris Porter Founder of Free the Pod. Shows anything is possible for those willing to meet.