From the Bay of Eilat to the Black Sea

Return to Nature Project – July 26, 2004

From the Bay of Eilat

Dolphin Reef is based on the commitment to allow the dolphins to maintain their routine as they wish and to bond with their human friends of their own free will and through free choice. This approach was the basis for the “Open Sea Project”, carried out over the years, where the dolphins were free to choose whether to stay within the boundaries of the site or to go out to the open sea.

As a result of inappropriate behavior of people towards the marine environment and the dolphins, we were forced to close the gate and to limit the Reef’s dolphins’ ability to go out to the open sea.

The confinement of the dolphins to the space within the Reef and the growth of the Reef’s dolphin family due to successful births, led to overcrowding in the site. In addition, the work at the ship repair yard recently established adjacent to Dolphin Reef served as an additional disturbance to the living conditions of the Reef’s dolphins and a serious disruption to their daily routine.

Our commitment to the dolphins at Dolphin Reef led us to act on behalf of their quality of life.


To The Black Sea

The ecological condition of the Black Sea, up to 5 years ago, had deteriorated as a result of industrial pollution and fishing. The dolphin population there has dwindled and is on the verge of extinction.

The efforts of all the countries surrounding the Black Sea (ACCOBAMS Organization), as well as the recognition of the dolphins living in it (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS PONTICUS) as an endangered species (according to the international CITES treaty), has contributed to significant improvement and rejuvenation of the Black Sea.

The transfer of the dolphins from the Reef to the Black Sea is one of the rehabilitation measures, carried out in cooperation between the Severtsov Russian Academy of Science and Dolphin Reef. Two dolphins, Shandy (10 year old male) and Pashosh (12 year old female), born at Dolphin Reef to parents originally from the Black Sea, were transferred back to the Black Sea.

Shandy and Pashosh were flown on Monday, July 26th, 2004 from Eilat to the Utrish Biological Research Station at the Black Sea, where they met a pair of local dolphins. After a stay of about one month at the Research Station, the four dolphins were released into the Black Sea.

This release project was backed and accompanied by local and international environmental groups, such as the Nature Reserves Authority in Israel and in Russia, and ACCOBAMS organization.

We, at Dolphin Reef, are proud to take part in an international project concerned with the preservation of the environment and the raising of human awareness towards nature and its treasures. We are happy about the good future for Shandy and Pashosh, but at the same time, sad at their departure.

At the Black Sea prior to their release

We thank all those who helped realize this project and made it a success.