‘Hey Dusty, have you heard of the dolphin swimmers’ conference in Dingle?’
‘Yeah, I got a telemail about that from Fungi yesterday. Isn’t that a bit over the top? I mean, I can look after myself very well, you know, anyway, better than you people.’
‘I do not doubt that, but that is not why we want to meet.’
‘But you know yourself that if I want to be by myself I just go powder my nose and I am back in a jiffy.’
‘You’re not quite in focus there, honey. Did you know that in France, Spain and the USA it is already illegal to swim with wild dolphins?’
‘Shit, are you serious? But I take a lot of pleasure in playing with you people and that will not be allowed anymore?’
‘It surely looks like that.’
‘And nobody asks me. Anyone can see how much I enjoy this. Are my feelings left out of consideration?’
‘They want to ban it to protect you.’
‘Get away, that doesn’t make me happy at all. Then it would be always like winter when I hardly see anyone in the water for months! Shunned by my old friends because they will be treated as criminals the moment they touch me.’
‘Exactly and that is what we want to prevent.’
‘So I’m totally cut off? Even if I want to swim with people for my research?’
‘Indeed, that fib they only claim for themselves.’
‘But that is a tidal lunacy. It’s bad enough that my kindred are being slaughtered, drowned in nets or locked up for life in creepy concrete clinks, purely for your joy.’
‘I wish that was true, but no, your “protectors” even cooperate with the IWC, the organisation that annually decrees how many whales can be shot.’
‘But that is a serious error. I thought we were meant to inspire mankind to a better world.’
‘Surely, same here, but do you know that these “protectors” are also convinced that dolphins are aggressive and untrustworthy?’
‘Now really, haven’t we got any rights? Is everything meddled by people who don’t like us, know squat about us or only want to exploit us? I think I’ll contact Fungi without delay and tell him of our conversation. Where and when exactly is this conference?’
‘The conference will be held from the 12th until the 15th of May in the Skellig hotel in Dingle. Participation is set on 150 euro and there will be lectures by true dolphin loving specialists from all over the world.
For extensive information you can go to www.irishdolphins.com’