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Captive audience
Three dolphins in captivity almost entered the program in March, but their move was canceled for unknown reasons, hours before they were relocated to the center, den Haas said
T
hree dolphins in captivity almost entered the program in March, but their move was canceled for unknown reasons, hours before they were relocated to the center, den Haas said.
Ric O’Barry had accompanied forestry officials to inspect the three dolphins suggested by the ministry as the first program participants, and he called them the ideal candidates for the nascent dolphin rehabilitation and release program.
Ready to accept: Femke den Haas (second left), a team member and one of the founders of the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) and team members of the Dolphin Rehabilitation Center in Karimunjawa stand in front of the center. JP/Maria Kegel
A film crew from the States was brought over to Semarang in March to document the dolphins’ arrival into the program, while veterinarians, a national park boat and a police boat stood by the two military trucks carrying three special transportation boxes for bringing the friendly sea mammals to their temporary home, den Haas said.
But two hours before the team was to depart to meet the military trucks and the dolphins, the owners canceled their release into the rehabilitation program, she said.
“We had no idea this was going to happen. The power is completely in the government’s hands to take the dolphins, and we are just there helping them with our expertise and resources to make sure everything runs smoothly,” den Haas said.
Lincoln O’Barry recalled: “The National Park guys were sleeping on their boat [in Semarang], thinking they were just coming over for the day to get the dolphins and go back, but they had to sleep on the deck with no cabin for four days and we had to bring them food.”
Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Director General Darori, had not yet responded to The Jakarta Post’s email question of when these dolphins would be released into the Karimun Jawa dolphin rehabilitation program at the time this story went to press, although he had said earlier in a phone call with the Post that their release would be sometime in July when the weather is good at sea.
