Why doesn't Ted Turner VP of Ocean Embassy, ex Sea World. know that dolphins aren't "fish" but mammals.

Does anyone recall Sea World being in the news for cruel treatment of animals under their care?

One way a person deflects the issue is to cry racism, which is what Porter did by 'asking' if the reason for the concern over the dolphins is because "there's no white person there. What there needs to be a white guy to oversee things?"

I'm always stunned by the 'honesty' with which rapers of the animal kingdom portray themselves.

Where does Porter get off tearing animals from the wild so that humans have the right to 'encounter' wild life in containment that amounts to torture and prison?

I want to thank the producers of the producers of Dolphin Dealer. As disturbing as it was to watch, it educated me as to the brutal trafficking of a delightful species on our planet.

The segment showing the local people capturing dolphins was not nearly as upsetting as the torture these animals suffer at the hands of Christopher Porter and his pursuit of wealth.

I reside on Texada Island, and commute to work via ferry. We commuters have had the privilege to see dolphins in their natural habitat and what joy it has brought us. One would have to be totally blinded by greed to not see the well-orchestrated team work these animals practise. How sad to think that these family groups are destroyed and suffer terrible psychological trauma at these assaults.

Shame on anyone who claims that they are practising "conservation" when in actuality they are displaying their out of control greed, and lack of compassion for harmless, beautiful creatures.

Thank you again, for a very well produced expose. I'm sure it will cause many to stop supporting anyone who thinks keeping animals in captivity is ethical entertainment.

Pat Parsley

watch this makes me ill. How can be stop this and others for the sake of greed!

Thanks to the CBC for producing and airing this important documentary. The airing coincides with the news that, in addition to 28 dolphins that were sent from the Solomon Islands to the Atantis resort in Dubai, a whale shark has been taken from the wild and placed in the aquarium at the resort. I would encourage the CBC and all its viewers to voice their opposition to this inhumane capture and keeping of these beatiful wild animals.

Prior to my arrival to the Solomon Islands, a dolphin was killed for their meat and teeth which was a financial value of $20CAD.

A dolphin is worth thousands times higher than that for the Solomon Islands. Dolphins in Solomons have brought the highest levy ever paid to the Government and the highest permit fee ever paid to the Government. The last movement of only 28 animals to Dubai was equivalent to levy of three ships of whole round logs.

This in a Country that is part of owning over 60% of the tuna resources of the world. In a Country that has infinite amount of hardwoods that are being exported far below market value.

My aim in the Solomons is for the betterment of THEIR PEOPLE. They recognize this and they stand firm in the belief that their natural resources are for the utilization for the betterment of their people. If more Companies operating in the Solomons showed clearly the true value of the resources for the Solomon Islands the Country would be richer than Canada based on one simple fact, they have Community.

The Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation whose indigenous people still own 100% of their land and their resources. I work with them and am accepted based on the fact I show them the true value of their resources for their betterment. What would of happened if the white man did that to the Native populations of Canada?

I own no mansion, I own no fancy car, I simply believe that a live dolphin is better for the people of the Solomon Islands and for the dolphin itself.

Is there any petitions going around currently to stop this because I would really like to help in some way. The way christopher porter goes about gaining wealth by not only hurting the captive dolphins and the whole ecosystem is disgusting. It's just so sad that all this took place under a corrupted government where money seems to be the only value to them. Wish I could be there to protest!

Very interesting points made in this discussion. I am curious why everyone steers away from the fact that thousands of dolphins are slaughtered for their teeth and meat in the Solomons. I am now working with Communities that say they would stop this based no other alternatives for their personal development.

The activists promised big things for the Communities only if they stopped working with me, not if they stopped hunting dolphins.

May I please ask why it is ok for the Solomon Islanders to kill dolphins but it is not ok for them to choose a live alternative?

After watching this documentary, I am so completely disgusted by Christopher Porter & how he believes that destroying an ecosystem all in the name of profit is ethical- regardless of the society.

The fact that he & his corrupt team of workers truly believe that a dolphin flying half way around the world in an airplane would not cause it to be stressed is proof of their ignorance. Humans get stressed flying on airplanes, dogs and cats too--> and these are all creatures who live on the land....

I feel so disturbed that someone like Porter- a canadian citizen who resides on the west coast who really SHOULD be in touch with nature & have some sort of respect for it is the man behind this horrific "business".

How he managed to brainwash the Solomon Island Government & their people into believing that this is a positive & ethical way of using their 'natural resources' to THEIR benefit is shocking- this all seems more like a personal vendetta for Porter. The fact that he doesn't live in a mansion or drive a fancy car is completely irrelevant. I honestly don' t know how he or his family can sleep at night knowing what kind of trauma he's put these gorgeous creatures through.

As far as I'm concerned, he's a crook & he belongs in jail.

--> & for the record, zoos & aquariums are CRUEL!!!

Thanks to the CBC for their work on this documentary and bringing this issue to light.

I continue to be deeply disturbed by what humans do to the creatures that inhabitat this earth. This documentary has compelled me to comment and try to take whatever action I can to stop this practice.

This film raised a number of ethical questions. It is always difficult to comment from a place of privlege, on the practice of people in other cultures that seem abhorrent from my view. Though I am personally greatly opposed to the hunting practice of all whales worldwide, that will not change the perception or need of people who do so. We have to look at the underlying perceptions and why they feel they need or desire to hunt these animals. If it is a case of impoverishment, then it is incumbent upon those of us that have more, to share more resources, in order to help those with less to satisfy their basic needs. If it is tradtional practice, perhaps a opportunity to view the animals "value" from a differnt lens may help to shift their perspectives, this could only be done with the help of people from that culture, it certainly could not be imposed.

Opportunities to exploit these situations only exist if we sit idly by, and continue to visit "swim with the dolphin programs" (and Marine parks) while we enjoy our vacation. Then we are also complicit and responsible.

It is possible to see how one could rationalize the exporting live dolphins for "entertainment" as a more "humane" alternative to the slaughter they may otherwise face in the Solomon's, but my question to Chris and his partners both in the Solomons and States would be;

If you are so concerned with acting on the behalf of the animials well-being and the people of the Solomon's, why not work with them to develop an ethical "Ecotour" ecomony in the islands, thereby addressing issues like impoverishment, providing an opportunity to shift the perception of the "value" of Dolphins, which may lead to eventually discouraging the hunt. An "ecotour" ecomony in the Islands would not require any dolphins to be caught or imprisoned, in fact they could be "viewed"(similar to ETHICAL whale watching tours) or swim with them in the wild if people really wanted to "encounter" Dolphins. If they are truly worth more live than dead to the people of the Solomon's wouldn't that go alot further to protecting a far greater number of Dolphin's?

In my opinion, the current situation is exploiting both the Dolpihins and the people of the Solomon's, where does the profit go? Is it re-distributed to the people, or is the majority of it leaving the county (or conentrated in the hand s of the few in the country), like the profits of so many other multinational's.

Sadly, it seems to me that there are people with a vested interested in maintaining the status quo in order for the few to profit, with no care for the plight of the Dolphins whatsoever.

Personally, I will make every effort to let people know about this issue.

Stacey Wilson

In response to Christopher Porter's question of why a live alternative is more frowned upon in this case. There is a difference between the native people of the Solomon's carrying out age old traditions and a foreigner creating a new industry for his own personal gain.

Animal rights issues have become a more widely known issue across the decades and I find it appalling that someone who claims to love animals could exploit them for money and say it is no different (or even better) than a custom that had been carried out for generations. People from all over the world have used the resources and animals native to their regions to live, it is a natural part of living off the land.

Christopher Porter, I find your greed has clouded you judgment and your ability to see right from wrong. There was a fine line that was crossed and I'm sorry that more world organizations haven't stopped people like you from engaging in this kind of activity.

Dolphin Protector Abducted and Viciously Beaten in the Solomon Islands

UPDATE: City Councilor, Lawrence Makili (featured in The Dolphin Dealer) was abducted from his home in Honiara by eight men in two cars. He was driven for about kilometers out of town when the thugs tried to kill him. Mr. Makili bravely fought back which may have saved his life. He received a broken right arm, fractured ribs, fractured, facial bone, and several other injuries. He was a victim of attempted murder for simply for trying to stop the traffic in Solomon Islands dolphins. Today are now five different dolphin capture teams operating in the Solomon Islands including Chris Porter and Ted N. Turner of the infamous Ocean Embassy. If the profit motive was gone, the dolphin hunters and the violence would be gone also.

Ric O'Barry www.SaveJapanDolphins.org

Ric O Barry you are well aware that RAMSI (The Foreign Police Force in the Solomons Islands which includes Australia and New Zealand) have found no connection with any party associated with dolphins. The personal issues of the case are well known throughout the Solomon Islands and I would ask your professionalism in sharing facts.

CBC I also would ask that you as a news agency would also have access to specific facts that are defaming in nature.

After watching the show Dolphin dealer, I am without words.

I have travelled to Cancun Mexico when I was younger and I did go to a swim with the dolphin attraction in Park Nizuc Cancun. I remember clearly that the staff told us the story on how the dolphins in captivity at the park where all RESCUED dolphins that where hurt by boats etc... I actually tought they were nursing them. What a bunch of BS and the worst part is that I believed it.

I am really upset after seing the show on CBC, I wish I could do more to help....

I can't beleive our goverments are doing nothing. Thank god for all those that are working hard to close those attractions.

The human race is very crual, it seems that money really does rule over what is good.

Annick

I am sickened and dismayed about how these dolphins have been treated. Making excuses such as 'we're saving them from suffering' is nothing more than what I would say is a warped and obtuse excuse to make money.
Think about this: how would you like it if your mothers and daughters were taken away and you could never see them again??? All animals have souls, and with souls, feelings. Dolphins moreso, are compassionate creatures. I pray that their existence in the next samsara will be one of peace.

Thank you to CBC for this awakening.

Thank you CBC for airing this documentary again. Watching it, I am struck by the thin line that separates the practices of Christopher Porter (the pimp of those intelligent sea mammals) and his former employer (the Vancouver Aquarium) who also breeds sea mammals for export.

I felt sorry for the mess you found yourself in (Dr. Frankenstein- I mean Mr. Porter) when you commented on the overwhelming monstrous size of your operation when the planes were being loaded on the runway. Your eyes said it all. sadness, guilt and shame of your greed. You kept mentioning the money way too much. Felt sorry for the legacy your children will take on. Your wife(?) looked like a lonely dolphin in a tank back home in Victoria. Fed, impregnated and given just enough affection to not sink and die.

Did you ever think that a co-ordinated education program with people- to show the islanders that dolphin are not fish? They could learn to think of them differently if they knew of their intelligence and how people of the world adore them (well , not the Japanese).
1000 dolphin teeth for a bride? Education might start with the women. Tell them to set their own price for marriage- with some other object. Get into the 21st century. The world looks at them like the headhunters of NewGuinea . Basically out of the stoneage!
Surely another sourse of protein could be introduced to them. You started out with good intentions. Trying to stop the slaughter. Big money seemed to be the answer. It seemed to give the islanders a new outlook with new industry . Then you lost control and heart. While you were leaving natives in charge - your `operation holding corral" led to animal cruelty. Instead of letting them go and starting over you looked pitiful feeding them one minnow after another trying to fatten them up again.
` I am now working with Communities that say they would stop this based no other alternatives for their personal development.' you said. I hope this has worked out . Sounds like it wouldn't have taken much for them to stop this way of eating if they were taught alternatives.
`May I please ask why it is ok for the Solomon Islanders to kill dolphins but it is not ok for them to choose a live alternative? ' you said. Were they ever shown other bounties from the ocean? If that was done before they got a taste of the big money pimping dolphins around the world, they would have been better off. You too.

`This in a Country that is part of owning over 60% of the tuna resources of the world. In a Country that has infinite amount of hardwoods that are being exported far below market value. ' you said. Sounds like there are ways to increase the income. I know in Canada we are finally seeing that milling your own wood instead of selling raw logs is the way to go- value added. Maybe a mill is what is needed and a large nursery for replanting. Won't be a shortage of seaweed and fishbone fertilizers!!

Thank you CBC for always producing and airing excellent and informative documentaries. This one about the Dolphins was an eye opener..although sad to see the utter exploitation of these wonderful gentle mammals. I believe all Zoos and Acquariums should be shut down. To be held captive for the rest of their lives for these animals is a prison term and just not right.!!
Do we know the fate of those 28 dolphins transported to Dubai? How many have died? There is nothing that money cannot corrupt...ppls behavior as seen with Christopher Porter and Ted Turner VP of Ocean Embassy clearly show their greed...
Thank you again CBC for this expose' !

over 10 years ago, I went to a swim with dolphin program in Maui, I was told that those dolphins were rescued....but from the documentary....I am very angry from all the lies. To take the dolphins from where they were born and lived freely....And sold them for a profit....Mr Porter and his american partner might think they are doing the right thing, with all the money in their bank account. But ethically it is wrong!!! If you have a child living happily but are snatched away from you because there is a possibility for the child to get hurt or killed....and sold to others for profit....I don't think that make sense at all.

Mr porter has a family, he should understand the pain involved when you take a child away from their parents....just because the dolphins don't protest...doesn't mean they are hurting.

I am ashamed for what I had participated 10 years ago. If we all stop swimming with the dolphins, and just let them be. I think that would be the most humane thing to do.

Yes...dolphins in the soloman island region, has a chance of being eaten for food. But that can be changed with education.

So Mr. porter, don't let money blind you. There is such thing as Karma...I had experienced it myself in many occasions....the scariest thing is that Karma applies not just to you, but the people close to you. Have a heart, don't let your family live in shame.

Can I please ask have any of you actually been to the Solomon Islands or know anything about them apart from through this documentery. Although I live in London I am from Honiara - the capital and I am perplexed by the comments on this page and on this website generally.

Firstly when describing the setting of this doc - "Set in the Solomon Islands, the most beautiful yet most brutal nation in the South Pacific". Most brutal? Where s that from - all visitors in my experience have only the kindest words to say about the islands - whether they be Asian, European or American. Brutal compared to the standards of the West - that makes me laugh - where war is a profit machine! I have studied Psychology and countless studies/reports have been done on the Melanesian/Polynesian people - which have found them to be the happiest people on the planet - while this is very subjective, one thing is for sure all their pyhsical/emoitional needs are met and hence depression and other mental health maladies do not exist there and why they are such peaceful people.

Secondly which is fueled by my long standing amazement at animal rights activists - whereby they pick and choose which animals are more important than others. It is stated that the teeth of dolphins are used to buy a bride - well yes this does happen but not to the extent that is suggested on this website - the solomon islands is a group of hundreds of small islands with hundereds of different dialects, cultures, practises and even races - Micronesian as well. Because of this there are many different cultural practises from different areas of the islands - one island you may be familiar with - Malaita - is a culture based around the shark, and yes they use shark teeth. What Im saying is that the dolphin is only one species that Islanders try to catch in certain parts of the country - the salt water crocodile is another - but I have never seen or heard of any such mass dolphin hunts where thousands have been killed - until the westerners turned up! Also can I point out there are probably around 400,000 - 500,000 people in the main part of the Solomon Islands which shows that there is not this huge demand in the country that is suggested on this website - the demand comes from abroad - mainly Japan.

Thirdly the mass dolphin hunts you are describing are from my experince the Japanese - not Solomon Islanders.

Solomon Islanders have a far deeper respect for animals than I have seen in most Western countries - this is why they are on our national emblem, on tattoos of tribes and why they are worshipped by many tribes. Rememebr we are talking about many Islands that have no running water or electricity and nature is as big a part of their lives as family. This point leads me to my next - this level of greed that is suggested that Islanders have to now sell dolphins - this may be true - but only if there is an incentive such as Westerners turning up saying look you can earn what you would in a year by getting me one dolphin! You work it out.

In reponse to the ignorant IT KNOWER who states

"Education might start with the women. Tell them to set their own price for marriage- with some other object. Get into the 21st century. The world looks at them like the headhunters of NewGuinea . Basically out of the stoneage!"

Despite us not living in the 21st century which personaly is not a crticsm as we care about our planet, our seas and nature - we are well educated people - one good thing the Britsh brought us through their Oxbridge missionaries, and we knew intelligence of Dolphins before Westerners even saw one hence why they are revereed as Gods.

Also Im glad you used the word headhunter and not cannibal like the other ignorant person on this comments page - there is a huge difference between the two read up on it. If you understand about Cannibilsm and headhunting in our region you will discover that there is a lot more sense behind these acts then you may think- wanting to kill each other and taste human flesh - NOT - It orignated as way of killing evil sprits - while this is obvoulsy wrong the belief was that they were doing the right thing - since education has reached us on this matter 100 years ago - we have stopped this practise as has the majority of it with our Papuan borthers. Headhunting probably ceased in the Solomons before hanging did in England - oh I forgot there are more humane ways of doing this nowadays in the US - electric chair!

Also another source of protein? Are you kidding me? When people are hungry and thers no KFC around the corner no matter who you are or where you are from you will eat what you can, not that many Islanders go hungry as there is plenty of fish - wich is the main source of food - next you will be telling them they cant eat that either.

Tuna farming has been mentioned on this page as well. There is a lot of Tuna in the Solomons - yet there is not one fishery, nor is the one Solomon owned distributer Im aware of- again these are foregin companies who take our fish and then try and sell it back to us in tins!

We have put up with Slavery, colonisation, Christian indoctrination, the second world war (where Japan and America ruined our islands),
Gold merchants, plam oil plunderers, deforesters and French Nuclear testing ( giving fish now extra fins, thrid eyes to lizzards etc) - and these were all foreign invasions - like this dolphin trade - PLEASE - PLEASE do not blame this on the native Solomon Islanders - as from the list I have mentioned they have had to deal with many foreign imposed practises. We have just come out of a civil war which would have never happened had we not been given guns (this is your 21st century - IT KNOWER) and now the Chinese are trying to get a piece of us as well.

So as you can see there are bigger issues for us Islanders to deal with - may I ask that you take this into account when judging us.