SEOUL, KOREA - Seoul Zoo's Pacific Dolphin 'Jedol' will be back to the sea following calls from animal rights groups to free dolphins captured illegally.
The Zoo will release the dolphin to to the seas off Jeju Island where it was caught. Jedol will be moved to Seongsan port, Jeju Island, on Saturday. After arriving in Jeju, Jedori will join two other dolphins at a protective facility for training to adapt to life in the wild.
A special jet and non-vibration automotive is used to transport the dolphin and transportation plan will be strategically managed to minimize the stress of the dolphin.
Jedol is 13 years old and has been at the zoo since 2009. He was sent there from Pacificland, a marine leisure park in Jeju, after being swapped for two Steller’s sea lions. But it was revealed last July that Pacificland operators illegally bought, an endangered species often called Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, from fishermen. Jedol was one of those mammals.
A civic animal protection organization has collected donations to pay the airfare for moving the dolphin to Jeju. Seoul Zoo said that this is the first release of a dolphin to the sea in Asia.
Animal rights groups had claimed the capturing of endangered species is not just illegal, but also animal abuse as was offering shows to human beings while confining them in a small space.
“It is not only a matter of one dolphin going home, but a matter of the relationship between animals and humans, between nature and humans said ”Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. In March 2012, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon ordered the release and rehabilitation of the dolphin.
The city government said it will build a facility in Jeju where Jedol can be trained to go back to the wild, with a budget of some 870 million won.
Ric O’Barry, director of Earth Island Institute’s Dolphin Project was invited by the Korean Animal Welfare Association to assess the condition of the dolphins and made recommendations for their rehabilitation and release. O’Barry said that Seoul’s decision has delivered a peaceful message to the world that it values nature and wildlife.
In addition, Jane Goodall, a primatologist in last November visited the Zoo and delivered a hopeful message and encouraged the success of releasing Jedol.
The dolphin received a final adaptation training for two more months and icology Prof. from Ewha Womans University have managed many subjects that are necessary to lead the dolphin’s successful release, including disease management and food hunting training.
- First time in Asia to release the dolphin to the sea
- The dolphin “Jedol” will be moved to Seongsan port, Jeju Island, on Saturday, May 11
⇒ Preparation(05:30AM) ⇒ Depart Seoul Zoo(07:30AM) ⇒ Depart Incheon Airport(10:30AM)
Arrival at Jeju Airport11:50AM) ⇒ Arrival at Seongsan Port(1:00PM)
- Calls from civic animal rights groups les to success of releasing the dolphin
- Ric O’Barry, international Cetaceans expert says release is very exceptional
- Jane Goodall, international primatologist encourages the success of the freedom
※ For the safety of the dolphin and restrictions from the Incheon Airport, media coverage is not allowed during transport.