Dolphin Discovery is out of here. It was reported yesterday in Guaymas that they will be gone by
this weekend with their three remaining dolphins. It is also being reported that the reason they are hitting the road is due to the fact that the last dolphin to die, just a few weeks ago, was infected with a fungus that got into its lungs. This is a fungus
that is native to Sonora and to save the other three dolphins they are pulling out. Is this story true? Until I see a copy of the autopsy I would still remain a little skeptical of the reasons why Dolphin Discovery is pulling the plug on the show here. There is very little transparency here in Mexico’s captive dolphin business and it is unlikely we are getting the complete story on what is going on out there.
I am sure CEDES, the state organization that runs the dolphinarium, could not be happier. This will give them another chance to grab dolphins from the wild. CEDES will do everything in its power, and I mean everything, to get a permit to collect local dolphins. It has already been reported to me, but not yet confirmed, that CEDES may already have a permit from state authorities in SAGARPA to collect dolphins. Which if in fact is true then CEDES would be in violation of several laws. State authorities can not give out permits to capture dolphins. Any permitting would have to come from the Federal Government after an environmental impact study was conducted as to ascertain which local population of dolphins would be targeted for the capture. It is currently illegal to capture dolphins in the wild in Mexico.
What also might hurt CEDES chances of getting wild dolphins in the facility is that fact that Guillermo Padres has become essentially a lame duck governor embroiled in controversy and corruption charges. I find it highly unlikely that a federally controlled PRI government in Mexico will do any favors for Guillermo Padres.
So the plot sickens out there at the dolphinarium, and as information comes in I will keep everyone up to date as best I can.