News
The slaughter of the dolphins
View(s):Acting on a tip-off last week, police raided a well-known fish stall in the Chilaw area while dolphin flesh was being sold.
Story and pix by Augustin Fernando and Jayarathna Wickramarachchi.
Police said that the mammals had been caught at sea and the still live mammals butchered inside a boat. The carcass was then transported to the stall where it was put up for sale. It was at this juncture that police detected the stock.
A fisherman had informed the police that dolphins accidentally do get entangled in their nets. When this happens he said, the flesh is sold to the public at Rs. 250/- per kg.
Police said they had received a tip-off regarding the sale of dolphin flesh and subsequently raided the stall
One person was arrested in this connection and is to be produced before the Chilaw District Court.
OIC Chilaw police station, Priyantha Bandara Kasthuriarachchi, SI Pathirana and several other personnel from the Chilaw police station participated in the raid.
Unless the public refrain from purchasing the flesh of these beautiful mammals, the slaughter will continue
Police officers from the Chilaw police station pose with carcass of one of the unfortunate creatures which were butchered by fishermen
Area residents help the police load parts of the carcass into a jeep
Police officers took into custody the flesh put up for sale illegally