WILLEMSTAD - Sea Aquarium is not allowed to export dolphins to the Fakieh Aquarium in Jeddah until a valid and adequate export permit has been issued. The judge ruled that on Friday. Animal Rights Netherlands filed an emergency procedure against the park for the transport of the dolphins Serena, Machu, Mosa, Sami and Luna to Saudi Arabia.
The summary proceedings were heard in court on Thursday. During the hearing, Animal Rights stated that the long journey will have a huge impact on the dolphins and that the Sea Aquarium would only be about financial gain. In addition, the organization spoke of appalling conditions in the Fakieh Aquarium.
According to Sea Aquarium, Animal Rights has no evidence for the aforementioned statements and they are said to be unsubstantiated. The lawyers emphasized that the necessary permits for the transport would have been issued to the owner of the dolphins. The exact owner of the five dolphins was not made clear during the hearing, despite the insistence of the judge and Animal Rights. The permit was also not presented.
The judge concluded that Sea Aquarium can be regarded as executing the transport of the dolphins. According to the judge, it is irrelevant that they are not the owner. "It would have been in the way of Sea Aquarium, insofar as there is such a permit, to submit it or give it access," said the judge.
The court forbids Sea Aquarium to export the dolphins without a permit. If the transport is nevertheless continued, there is a penalty of 200,000 guilders per dolphin.