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Two jet airliners carrying 28 live dolphins have left the Solomon Islands bound for Dubai, despite protests from environmental groups and threats to boycott Solomons tuna.
The dolphins were loaded by staff of the Marine Mammal Education Centre and Exporters, a company run by Canadian Chris Porter.
Director Robert Satu said the dolphins would be looked after with "great care" on their 30-hour flight to Dubai, and the export would pave the way for more lucrative shipments.
The sale was worth more than $1.2 million.
The dolphins are going to Dubai's new Palm Atlantis resort hotel, partly owned by ruling elites in the United Arab Emirates.
