Dolphins may be moved today
GULFPORT - Dolphins owned by Marine Animal Productions of Gulfport that are in four temporary locations in Gulfport and on the East Coast may be leaving for the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas today, according to several people working with the dolphins.
MAP president David Lion would not specify a date or even say whether the dolphins are leaving in an e-mail Tuesday, citing security concerns. He declined further requests for comment Wednesday.
However, several people working with the dolphins at the Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and at their temporary home on the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport said Wednesday 16 of the 17 dolphins that once lived at Marine Life are scheduled to be collected and transported.
One dolphin, Tessie, is critically ill and being left behind in Florida. Her longtime poolmate, Cherry, will be taken away, said Stacey Coltraine, a former MAP dolphin trainer and current Gulfarium employee. Her odds of survival alone are poor, Coltraine said, because of the social nature of dolphins.
Coltraine said MAP has been preparing for at least a week to move them today.
"We have been asked to help," Coltraine said. "I can see the transport equipment now. They're being driven to Mobile, and flown out of Mobile."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency issued a letter Dec. 28, which allows the dolphins to be transported internationally and does not discuss the pending litigation between MAP owner Donald Jacobs and former MAP president Dr. Moby Solangi.
"The standard protocol is that they have a 60-day window to move the animals," said Jennifer Skidmore, Fisheries Management Specialist in the Office of Protective Services at NOAA Fisheries Service. "We were aware that there was litigation occurring but we weren't aware of any details of the litigation. So, at the present time, Marine Animal Productions has custody of the animals and under the marine animals protection act, it's within their rights to export them."
The case is being heard by Judge James H.C. Thomas Jr. of Hattiesburg.
Coltraine said a protest against the move has been organized in Fort Walton Beach for 11 a.m. and Solangi's lawyer, Beau Stewart, said there will also be a protest in Mobile.
Stewart said he believes that if the dolphins leave Thursday afternoon, it would be a "sale in fact," or de facto sale of the dolphins because there is an agreement filed in chancery court between MAP and the owners of Atlantis resort in which Atlantis owners will pay for the dolphins' transport and MAP will sell its stock to Atlantis owners by March 31.
Rusty Walker, president of "Save Our Dolphins," said there is a 10 a.m. hearing today that may affect the dolphins' move.
Skidmore said NOAA Fisheries could only ask for and not demand the dolphins return once they were abroad and the she was unsure of what kind of jurisdiction Thomas would have if the dolphins were in the Bahamas.
MAP president David Lion would not specify a date or even say whether the dolphins are leaving in an e-mail Tuesday, citing security concerns. He declined further requests for comment Wednesday.
However, several people working with the dolphins at the Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and at their temporary home on the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport said Wednesday 16 of the 17 dolphins that once lived at Marine Life are scheduled to be collected and transported.
One dolphin, Tessie, is critically ill and being left behind in Florida. Her longtime poolmate, Cherry, will be taken away, said Stacey Coltraine, a former MAP dolphin trainer and current Gulfarium employee. Her odds of survival alone are poor, Coltraine said, because of the social nature of dolphins.
Coltraine said MAP has been preparing for at least a week to move them today.
"We have been asked to help," Coltraine said. "I can see the transport equipment now. They're being driven to Mobile, and flown out of Mobile."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency issued a letter Dec. 28, which allows the dolphins to be transported internationally and does not discuss the pending litigation between MAP owner Donald Jacobs and former MAP president Dr. Moby Solangi.
"The standard protocol is that they have a 60-day window to move the animals," said Jennifer Skidmore, Fisheries Management Specialist in the Office of Protective Services at NOAA Fisheries Service. "We were aware that there was litigation occurring but we weren't aware of any details of the litigation. So, at the present time, Marine Animal Productions has custody of the animals and under the marine animals protection act, it's within their rights to export them."
The case is being heard by Judge James H.C. Thomas Jr. of Hattiesburg.
Coltraine said a protest against the move has been organized in Fort Walton Beach for 11 a.m. and Solangi's lawyer, Beau Stewart, said there will also be a protest in Mobile.
Stewart said he believes that if the dolphins leave Thursday afternoon, it would be a "sale in fact," or de facto sale of the dolphins because there is an agreement filed in chancery court between MAP and the owners of Atlantis resort in which Atlantis owners will pay for the dolphins' transport and MAP will sell its stock to Atlantis owners by March 31.
Rusty Walker, president of "Save Our Dolphins," said there is a 10 a.m. hearing today that may affect the dolphins' move.
Skidmore said NOAA Fisheries could only ask for and not demand the dolphins return once they were abroad and the she was unsure of what kind of jurisdiction Thomas would have if the dolphins were in the Bahamas.
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