On the 31st of March I broke the news of plans to build a dolphinarium in Olu Deniz/Hisaronu and today, 5th September I can confirm that the 'facility' is closed and will not reopen. Born Free will take care of the immediate future of Misha & Tom.
The Sunday Express runs the story as "Dolphins Saved by British Expats" tomorrow and while we must not think like that - the Turkish support has been amazing - I personally want to pay tribute to the Dolphin Angels, the tireless work of "our" Nichola, to Born Free who walked forward as so many dolphin charities stepped back, to Helen Worth who put our 'little' story into the biggest newspaper in the UK as only a celebrity can do, to Donal MacIntyre who took it up a gear to British television and to every person who marched for Misha and Tom, and those who showed their support on CBF and Facebook.
Make no mistake, if we all just accepted it, they would still be facing the rest of their lives in a human built prison. What has happened this weekend happened because of what we did. Not just the Helen Worths and the Donal McIntyres - YOU.
I don't see that I did much but I am proud to call myself part of the group that shouted disapproval and didn't let it just happen. I hope you are too. I am ashamed that Turkey allowed this to happen at all - I am ashamed of Kerametin Yilmaz for allowing something akin to bears in chains to drag our beloved Turkey back generations, I am ashamed of Seaside Tours and Hamish McTurk for their support and ticket sales that prolonged the agony of Misha and Tom and ashamed of Nadia's Bar for their unwavering support and later disrespect of the peaceful protest march by turning up their music to try and drown out the speeches. I hope nobody ever forgets who supported and in doing so prolonged this barbaric imprisonment.
But this isn't about negative feelings, I'm proud of every tour operator who refused the lure of the dolphin lira, to every bar that turned their music OFF for the peaceful march and proud of what was ultimately achieved.
This is one of the most important days in the history of CBF - well done everyone.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/197576/Dolphins-saved-by-British-expats