First-of-its-Kind Ruling in Bahrain to Release Three Dolphins

The journey of the three dolphins “Jojo, Jory, and Danny” in the Kingdom has ended after two years in captivity.

The Public Prosecution, in cooperation with the concerned authorities, implemented a judicial ruling to release them into their natural marine environment, a first-of-its-kind ruling in Bahrain.

In April 2021, the three dolphins were caught by three unlicensed hunters from within the hunting grounds. Hunting dolphins is prohibited in the kingdom.

The violators then sold the dolphins to a theme park without legal permission.

Head of the Execution Prosecution, Muhammad Al-Musallam, said that the process of releasing the dolphins in their natural marine environment had taken place with efforts from the Public Prosecution and the General Administration of the Coast Guard and the Supreme Council for the Environment in cooperation with The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAO) is the first operation of its kind in the Kingdom. It came in the implementation of a ruling in an unprecedented court convicting those accused of hunting dolphins and fining them, and confiscating the boat used for fishing and returning the dolphins to their habitat.