Seven months after the launch of the public campaign asking #WhereIsMartinha, the rescued common dolphin still remains completely hidden from the public.
On October 23rd 2018 a coalition of eminent marine mammal scientists, conservationists and NGOs from around the world announced that they had been trying for years to uncover the truth about the whereabouts of a common dolphin named Martinha.
Martinha, a common dolphin estimated to be 6 months old when she stranded on a Portuguese beach, was rescued by Quiaios Rehabilitation Center for Marine Animals (CRAM-Q) over 11 years ago. Martinha was witnessed by independent experts to be held by her rescuer’s in a tiny, filthy pool in the back yard of the rehabilitation centre; Martinha resided there for a decade.
Martinha at CRAM-Q Img; Dolphinaria Free Europe/Dr Ingrid Visser
In 2017 the Portuguese Government (ICNF) and CRAM-Q claimed that Martinha would soon be moved to a bigger more naturalistic tank at a new four and a half million euro development called, CRAM-ECOMARE. The new centre would be the result of a partnership between the Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), the University of Aveiro, the Oceanário de Lisboa and Forum Oceano (formerly Oceano XXI).
Martinha’s Rescue Coalition, believing Martinha had been moved, repeatedly asked ICNF and SPVS for information about Martinha’s current location, her state of welfare and why she was being concealed, yet until launching a public #WhereIsMartinha campaign, they received no response at all.
One month after the public campaign launch, a letter was finally received from ICNF which stated that “Martinha was never concealed and the conditions she is presently in, do not compromise her welfare. In fact, since 2016 Martinha is using a new tank..” The letter went on to describe the ‘large tank’ at CRAM-ECOMARE and stated that Martinha is in ‘good condition’ and ‘very active,’ however the correspondence failed to provide a current image of Martinha in her new tank.
Does Martinha now live in this tank? Img: Google
Since launching the #WhereIsMartinha campaign and despite a Portuguese Ministerial report into the publics’ questions about Martinha’s location and welfare, CRAM-ECOMARE and the Portuguese Government, who legally own Martinha, refuse to provide any proof that Martinha is alive and well. Additionally, there has never been any evidence forthcoming that Martinha resides in the ‘larger more naturalistic tank’, which is believed to be the roof-top tank at the CRAM-ECOMARE facility.
The large CRAM-ECOMARE tank, does Martinha live here? Img:Oceanario de Lisboa
Internet searches by the Black Cove team have uncovered some vision of a dolphin in one of the smaller tanks at the new centre and information in the Ministerial report did inform that Martinha resides in a smaller tank in the cooler months. However to date there has been no evidence that Martinha resides or has ever been kept in anything other than yet another backyard swimming pool.
Martinha in one of the small CRAM-ECOMARE tanks. Image:CUF
Can you help Martinha?
Martinha’s Rescue Coalition have recently launched a new campaign urging the public to ask the Portuguese Government to provide a current photo of Martinha in her bigger tank.
Please email ICNFand ask for a photo of Martinha.
Please Sign and share the Petition and demand answers.
Learn more about Martinha’s Story and Martinha’s Rescue coalition at martina.org Follow Martinha’s Rescue on Facebook and Twitter.
Always be polite.😊
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