Captive dolphins returned to wild in South Korea
Two indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins have been returned to the wild in off Jeju Island in South Korea, 20 years after being illegally captured.
In April, local authorities led by mayor Park Wan-soon ruled that the dolphins, Geumdeung and Daepo, must be released. Since then, they have undergone a rehabilition programme to prepare them for life in the wild. It is hoped they will join up with a local population of around 100 other dolphins.
South Korea has previously released a number of other dolphins back to the wild and last year two were seen with calves.
Find out more about captivity and WDC’s work to end this cruel practice.