The Marine Life Oceanarium has received the necessary permits to move 17 Hurricane Katrina displaced dolphins to the Kerzner resort at Paradise Island.
David Lion, newly appointed president of Marine Life and Animal Productions, owners of the dolphins, confirmed that the permits were granted on Tuesday, according to the Sun Herald.
Kerzner International had offered to buy the Oceanarium located in hurricane ravaged Gulfport, Mississippi and provide the dolphins with a new home at its Paradise Island resort.
The animals are expected to be used as the main attraction for Atlantis’ planned dolphin encounter, scheduled to open in 2007.
However, that plan was delayed when Mississippi residents protested. They claimed that moving the dolphins out of Mississippi would be bad, both for the dolphins and the community.
The continued effort to purchase dolphins for the company’s Phase III aquatic facility has not been easy for the Kerzner organisation.
Recently a minority partner of the Gulfport Oceanarium filed a lawsuit in the US, opposing the sale of the 17 dolphins.
Moby Solangi, who was fired from the Oceanarium earlier this year, went to court to stop the sale, stating that the dolphins should remain in Gulfport and not be sold to “the highest bidder,” ABC News said.
Last month Kerzner International also became embroiled in a controversy involving the alleged illegal import of dolphins from the Solomon Islands.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) claimed that 40 dolphins were to be exported to the Bahamas for Kerzner’s Atlantis resort.
A ban is in place in the Solomon Islands for the export of live dolphin.
However, Kerzner International vehemently denied all allegations which claimed that their company was attempting to purchase the dolphin.
According to the Sun Herald’s report, the announcement came a day after longtime Marine Life veterinarian Connie Chevis resigned her post. The story, according to Mr. Lion, claims that Ms Chevis left because she felt her role with MAP was redundant.
It is not clear when the dolphins are to be moved.
Source: οΎ The Tribune; Nassau, Bahamas
