Jane Tipson
Encyclopedia
Jane Tipson was a conservationist
and animal rights
activist, who was murdered in the Caribbean island nation Saint Lucia
in 2003. It is alleged that she was victim of a contract killing
for her work against the construction of dolphinarium
tourist attractions by the Dolphin Fantaseas group, and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to her killer being brought to justice. They also alleged that Saint Lucia police contaminated the crime scene, and were treating the investigation as a low priority. Tipson was stopped on a private road that led to her home, and shot at close range in the back of her neck. Police were not discounting an anti-environmentalism motive.
However, her sister, who lived with her on the island and found her shortly after her murder, claimed that it was unlikely that her environmentalism had anything to do with her murder, and that she considered the police were trying their best to solve the case. Dolphin Fantaseas disclaimed any involvement.
Jane Tipson, originally hailing from Devonshire
, United Kingdom
, and having lived in Saint Lucia for three decades, had been a co-founder of the Eastern Caribbean Coalition for Environmental Awareness, and was active in many campaigns against captive whale and dolphin tourism activities, instead promoting whale watching
and dolphin watching tourism. She was also the founder and president of Slaps, the Saint Luccia Animal Protection Society and owner of a local restaurant.
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
and animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
activist, who was murdered in the Caribbean island nation Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
in 2003. It is alleged that she was victim of a contract killing
Contract killing
Contract killing is a form of murder, in which one party hires another party to kill a target individual or group of people. It involves an illegal agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to kill the target in exchange for consideration, monetary, or otherwise. The hiring party may...
for her work against the construction of dolphinarium
Dolphinarium
A dolphinarium is an aquarium for dolphins. The dolphins are usually kept in a large pool, though occasionally they may be kept in pens in the open sea, either for research or for public performances...
tourist attractions by the Dolphin Fantaseas group, and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to her killer being brought to justice. They also alleged that Saint Lucia police contaminated the crime scene, and were treating the investigation as a low priority. Tipson was stopped on a private road that led to her home, and shot at close range in the back of her neck. Police were not discounting an anti-environmentalism motive.
However, her sister, who lived with her on the island and found her shortly after her murder, claimed that it was unlikely that her environmentalism had anything to do with her murder, and that she considered the police were trying their best to solve the case. Dolphin Fantaseas disclaimed any involvement.
Jane Tipson, originally hailing from Devonshire
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and having lived in Saint Lucia for three decades, had been a co-founder of the Eastern Caribbean Coalition for Environmental Awareness, and was active in many campaigns against captive whale and dolphin tourism activities, instead promoting whale watching
Whale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
and dolphin watching tourism. She was also the founder and president of Slaps, the Saint Luccia Animal Protection Society and owner of a local restaurant.