September, 2008
From Captain Paul Watson

The need for a group like SPECIEES. is real and it is urgent. Island eco-systems like the Galapagos are being destroyed by exotic species i.e. species primarily domestic introduced by humans. In the Galapagos, marine and land iguanas, native birds, and even the giant turtles are falling prey to prowling dogs, and cats, It is a serious situation and it requires a solution. For this reason Allison Lance has established the Society (to) Prevent Exotic Contamination (of) Island Eco-Systems (and) Endangered Species or SPECIEES. Her task is a formidable one but it can be done. Dogs and cats must be humanely removed from the islands. This can be done by spay and neutering existing dogs and cat populations and not allowing any further imports of these animals. Laws must be strictly enforced to prevent dogs and cats from hunting. They must be confined to the property of the owners. Roaming animals need to be captured and relocated off the islands. This requires working in cooperation with the Galapagos National Park, the National Environmental Police, the Comite Interinstitutional de Manejo de Especies Introducidas (CIMEI) and NGO's like Sea Shepherd, the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, the Darwin Research Center and WildAid. But most of all it requires a stubborn determination and experience to resolve this problem and Allison Lance has these exceptional talents to do just that.

-Captain Paul Watson
Founder and President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

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