Daily Archives: October 21, 2021

The firm Concierge.io is the concierge service focused on cryptocurrencies and it leverages proficient travel managers to furnish clients with extraordinary and luxurious experiences. The organization is likewise backed by Travala.com, a crypto-friendly travel service that accepts a bunch of digital assets for payment. On October 19, Concierge.io declared the organization has added new exclusive experiences to its luxury travel services so crypto investors can partake in their wealth in style. The firm has detailed it has as of now gave top of the line stays to crypto whales like week-long trips to private islands in the Maldives as well as private jets.

500% Increase in Clients in 6 Months, 100% of Bookings Made in CryptoBen Rogers, chief marketing officer at Travala.com detailed in a statement sent to Bitcoin.com News that for more than a year, demand has risen a great deal.

Today, the travel service adds even more premium experiences, such as a stay at a Japanese castle, a seven-star igloo in Antarctica, and all-inclusive African safaris, Concierge.ios announcement details. New luxury travel products also include exclusive access to some of the largest yachts in the world, complete with in-ship crews and chefs.

Weve seen the demand to pay for travel in crypto steadily rise over the past year-plus, as the number of crypto users has rapidly grown alongside a slow-but-steady reopening of global travel. Now, were seeing high-net-worth crypto investors want to really treat themselves with something other than Lamborghinis, Rogers said.

Concierge.io helps live out their travel dreams with their hard-earned crypto, providing yet another real-world use case for digital currencies that have made millionaires. In just six short months, weve already helped many fulfill their most extreme vacation fantasies and the additional experiences announced today further expand the possibilities and ways in which people explore the world.

Since the company launched six months ago in April 2021, Concierge.io says that its seen a 500% increase in clients. Furthermore, the firm notes that 100% of bookings were made with digital assets.

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Concierge service serving crypto whales sees 500% increase in customers over the past 6 months - Bollyinside - BollyInside

VASP ActStructuring optionsOther considerationsComment

Cayman Islands' foundation companies have so far proven to be one of the most useful and flexible legal structures for projects involving decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) (for further details please see "The foundation company as a decentralised autonomous organisation"). Such projects include decentralised finance (DeFi) protocols and platforms that utilise DAOs for governance. As the foundation company is not required to have any owners or shareholders, the foundation company perfectly represents both the DAO it serves and the DeFi project that it supports. However, with the introduction of the Virtual Asset (Service Providers) Act 2020 (the VASP Act), how are DeFi projects now being structured?

VASP Act

For developers wishing to utilise a foundation company as part of a DeFi project, they must first be aware of the VASP Act. The VASP Act will likely touch upon one or more aspects of a DeFi project. In particular, the VASP Act regulates:

The introduction of the VASP Act has therefore necessitated a deeper examination of how a foundation company relates to the DAO. Traditionally, it was assumed that the foundation company acted as the legal embodiment or wrapper of the DAO, and therefore it was potentially responsible for the activities, governance and liability of the protocol itself. However, this assumption may no longer be accurate where the protocol is carrying on VASP Activities, as the foundation company would likely need to be regulated in such cases. Where regulation is impracticable or undesirable, developers will need to redefine the relationship between the DAO and the foundation company.

Structuring options

In the wake of the VASP Act, three distinct structuring alternatives can now be observed.

Foundation company as a legal wrapperThe foundation company is still frequently being used as a legal wrapper for DeFi projects. For projects that wish to carry out private issuances of virtual assets but otherwise do not intend to carry on VASP Activities, the foundation company remains a suitable vehicle to represent the DAO. This is because the VASP Act regulates only the sale of virtual assets to the public in exchange for fiat currency, other virtual assets or other consideration. Although the term "public" has not been defined in the VASP Act, the Virtual Asset (Service Providers) Regulations 2020 clarifies that a private sale "means a sale, or offer for sale, which is not advertised and is made available to a limited number of persons or entities who are selected prior to the sale by way of a private agreement". The industry interpretation of these regulations is such that a private sale would not constitute a sale to the public. Therefore, so long as the foundation company observes the terms of a private sale, it should be able to carry out a limited virtual asset issuance from the Cayman Islands. This would also potentially include a virtual asset issuance to founders, developers, stakers and service providers of the DAO.

Further, projects that wish to decentralise immediately by carrying out a gratuitous airdrop of governance tokens can continue to do so from the Cayman Islands as the VASP Act is concerned only with the sales of virtual assets in exchange for some form of consideration. Where no consideration passes, the issuance would not fall under the remit of the VASP Act. This also means that, where the foundation company is the originator of the virtual asset, it might also grant gratuitous rewards from its treasury. Therefore, a DAO that wishes to undertake an airdrop or grant rewards may continue to do so using a Cayman Islands foundation company.

Foundation company as a legal wrapper with a subsidiaryWhere the DAO wishes to carry on VASP Activities but still wishes to take legal form as a foundation company, the most common alternative is to create a wholly owned subsidiary of the foundation company in a virtual asset friendly jurisdiction, such as the British Virgin Islands. With a BVI subsidiary, the foundation company will procure the subsidiary to carry on whichever activities it cannot perform from the Cayman Islands (ie, VASP Activities). Whilst this structure is more complex and costly, it allows a developer to utilise the benefits of the foundation company in a way that complies with the VASP Act. This dual structure has provided significant flexibility for several DeFi projects.

Foundation company as a service provider (with or without a subsidiary)Although legal embodiment of a DAO can be useful, it is usual to see the foundation company used as a service provider to the DAO. Typically, developers want the project to be fully decentralised so that no one person or entity can be considered responsible for the community's activities. In fact, it is true to say that many decentralised protocols could not be considered as having a centralised operator in any event as:

Therefore, for many projects, attempting to dress a DAO in a foundation company is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. What the DAO often needs is not legal embodiment but a real-world service provider. Such services can include:

In most cases, the foundation company can carry on these types of activities outside the scope of the VASP Act. Alternatively, the foundation company can have no specific service assigned to it other than to be on hand to carry on real-world activities (eg, signing contracts or liaising with digital asset exchanges) once the DAO votes for the foundation company to take an action. So long as the proposed activity is not a VASP Activity or any other regulated activity, the foundation company can carry out the activity as a service provider to the DAO. Where the requested activity of the DAO is in fact a VASP Activity, the foundation company could incorporate a suitable subsidiary to carry out such activity as described above. In either case, this structure provides the DAO with tremendous flexibility to utilise an ownerless and non-profit vehicle to act as its service provider.

Other considerations

In addition to the VASP Act, developers of DeFi projects should also ensure that they remain fully compliant with all other relevant laws and regulations in the Cayman Islands. In particular, these include the following legislation:

Developers of DeFi projects should also pay particular regard to the International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act. While foundation companies limited by guarantee were once outside of scope of the International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act, the scope of this law has been extended to include these vehicles. Thus, if a foundation company is carrying on relevant activities (which include finance and leasing business, distribution and service centre business, and intellectual property holding business), it will be required to have substance (ie, physical presence) in the Cayman Islands. This may be especially pertinent to DeFi projects where the foundation company could be considered as the ultimate lender of virtual assets when it exercises actual control or majority control through holding and voting the governance tokens.

Comment

The VASP Act has changed the way decentralised projects can operate in the Cayman Islands. Developers should be aware of their structuring options before executing any project or publishing a protocol.

For further information on this topic please contact Bradley Kruger or Michael Robinson at Ogier by telephone (+1 345 949 9876) or email ([emailprotected] or [emailprotected]). The Ogier website can be accessed at http://www.ogier.com.

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DeFi, DAOs and VASPs in the Cayman Islands - Lexology

What started as a playful dating app prompt turned into a romantic two-week getaway.

In late August, Capricia Alston and her boyfriend Kim Raney Gales packed their bags for a 12-day trip from Maryland to French Polynesia a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, roughly 2,600 miles south of Hawaii.

"We met on a dating app [two years ago], and one of the questions on his page was 'Dream destination,' and it was Bora Bora," Alston, 32, tells CNBC Make It. "So we decided ... to fulfill that dream that he's had."

Capricia Alston, 32, and Kim Raney Gales, 32, take a 12-day vacation to the French Polynesian islands.

Marc Grard & Billie Weber

Alston says she brings in low-six figures annually, as a a senior copywriter at marketing company Data Axle and occasional freelancer. She travels enthusiastically, spending around 30% of her annual income on travel as evidenced by her Instagram handle, "ShesTotallyTrippin" and has now visited six continents and 40 countries.

Gales, who works in IT, declined to disclose any information about his income. But even with their combined salaries, French Polynesia was still an expensive trip a "special occasion excursion," Alston says. In this case: Gales' 32nd birthday.

The couple budgeted $18,500 for their trip, splitting the costs equally. And they stuck to that budget tightly, going only a few dollars over.

Here's how they spent it:

Total: $2,856

Alston used Google Flights to book airfare back in February. "That's where I always start," she says. "Figuring out when it's cheapest." In this case, she had a $270 travel voucher from United Airlines, which helped reduce the cost.

The couple booked basic economy flights from Washington, D.C. to Tahiti, French Polynesia's largest island, with a layover in San Francisco a total of 13 hours in the air, in one day.

Their timing was fortuitous: "The flight was actually empty, so we were able to upgrade [to economy plus] for free," Alston says. "And [they] gave us the goodie bags from first class."

Later in the week, they flew Air Tahiti from Tahiti to Bora Bora and back. Each roundtrip ticket cost $460.

Gales and Alston also factored Covid tests into their budget: To return to the U.S., the couple needed to test negative within three days before their travel. They bought two tests, for a total of $120.

Total: $8,253

Alston and Gales spent two days in Tahiti, five days in Mo'orea and five days in Bora Bora. They spent one final night in Tahiti before flying home.

The couple budgeted for a premium lodging experience, ranging from the four-star Le Tahiti Pearl Resort to an extravagant villa at the Conrad Nui Bora Bora $400 per night and $1,200 per night, respectively.

Alston and Gales relaxing in their private Conrad Nui Bora Bora villa, which cost the couple $1200 a night.

Capricia Alston

The latter, a 1,600-square-foot overwater villa, was a splurge: It came with a spacious private terrace, an infinity pool, fully retractable windows and a personal butler service.

Alston says the butler service added some particular luxury to the experience: For example, a butler replaced their room's incense each night, which she says helped them sleep better.

"Couldn't have chosen a better room to stay in during a lockdown," she says. "It was totally worth that price."

Total: $4,785

"Food in French Polynesia is expensive," says Alston. That might be an understatement.

The couple spent between $75 and $300 on food per meal. Any alcohol drove up the price: A simple mimosa, Alston says, cost $25.

That's why she mostly stuck to Poke bowls, which only cost roughly $30 each. "My favorite meal was anything that had fresh fish in it," she says.

Alston and Gales enjoy breakfast with an ocean view from their private villa.

Capricia Alston

Their most expensive meal was a $280 breakfast in Bora Bora that was brought to their bungalow via canoe, and set up for them on their pool deck. It included fresh fruit, bacon, eggs, croissants and other breads, coffee, orange juice and a bottle of champagne.

Total: $375

Once Gales and Alston reached French Polynesia, their transit was surprisingly affordable.

To get from Tahiti to Mo'orea, the couple chose a $22 ferry over a $70 roundtrip propeller plane ticket. "We figured it would be fun," says Alston. "Especially since in order to get to Bora Bora, your only option is [briefly returning to Tahiti and flying]."

Once in Bora Bora, they primarily used free bikes to get around. In Mo'orea, they spent $60 on a one-day car rental to more thoroughly explore the island.

The car, Alston says, was manual: Automatic would have been $85, and the couple wanted to save their money for other parts of their budget. Neither of them knew how to drive stick shift, so they learned on the fly worth the $25 in savings, Alston says.

Total: $2,238

Traveling during Covid may get you a free upgrade on your flight, but it has at least one major drawback beyond any health and safety concerns: Lots of attractions remain limited or closed.

Alston had been looking forward to exploring the coral reefs and animal life on an underwater scooter. "I had been wanting to do that forever," she says. "And unfortunately that was cancelled during the lockdown."

Instead, the couple spent their activity budget on spa services, a professional photoshoot, and shopping. Their hotel in Mo'orea also offered some free activities, like kayaking and snorkeling.

Given their limited options, they spent freely: $660 on spa services, $620 on the photoshoot and $400 on shopping for keepsakes. "I got a spa service at every single hotel we went to," says Alston.

Alston surprises Gales for his birthday by having him brought on stage during the Polynesian celebration.

Capricia Alston

Alston also bought Gales a special birthday surprise: tickets to a traditional Polynesian feast and dance performance, where the dancers brought Gales up on stage and tried to teach him the dances.

"My boyfriend has no rhythm at all, and he's up there doing traditional Polynesian dances," Alston says. "I still can't get it out of my head."

The trip, Alston says, was unforgettable and one she'd happily do again. But, she notes, planning ahead and building a sizable budget can make or break the experience.

"You will need to have the money to really enjoy it to the fullest," she says.

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Let me tell you about my favourite spot in Scotland, if I may. When I think of the Isle of Skye as Ive often done over the past 18 months it appears pictured in my mind on a perfectly still summers evening, the mountains and shore backlit by a horizon on fire, as if everything were leading up to some sort of biblical climax. Sometimes, I recall the tired joy of climbing the Black Cuillin here, camping on Glenbrittle beach as a child and sitting by embers with friends in the dying afterglow.

Ive come to the island in the Hebrides more than any other and, while its semi-mythic ridges, coral beaches and unnerving cliffs are intoxicating, they are certainly not exclusively mine. Increasingly so, in fact its hard to find a space of my own.

Which was why, this summer, I decided to chase a route that offered away-from-it-all adventure without the crowds. And mine was the green, sustainable option, allowing me to explore the island from a wholly new angle and yet still see those places that linger in my memory.

Unbeatable views can be enjoyed from a paddleboard

(Rich Hendry)

Most people arrive to drive from Kyleakin to Portree and back again, but I was travelling by SUP in the company of Donald Macpherson, owner of Inverness-based micro-adventure outfitter Explore Highland. The paddlesport guide offers canoe, sea kayak and SUP trips throughout the Northwest Highlands but, like me, Skye is his favourite spot. Wed planned a beginners midweek trip starting on the Sleat peninsula. From there, wed hug the coast of Loch Eishort and Elgol, exploring islands and beaches as we went, and for as long as our paddles would keep us moving. He had two new inflatable, twin-fin boards from Brit manufacturer Red to road-test, and his enthusiasm was infectious. All I needed was a wetsuit.

Well have you turning on a sixpence in no time, he said, as we pushed off across the limpid water, our tents, sleeping bags and supplies in dry bags strapped at our feet. Now brace yourself for Skye as youve never seen it before.

Brace yourself for Skye as youve never seen it before

If Scotlands most-touted island has emerged as a UK destination in demand, it helps that it packs in the whole of the four devolved nations into a single spot. There are the gorgeous, fudgy sand beaches of Cornwall and Devon. There are the wild coastal edges and surf breaks of Pembrokeshire. There are the clifftop scrambles and basalt columns of County Antrim. There are Highland clan castles, shooting estates and Hebridean crofts galore.

Spectacular views abound too. Ahead of us, across glassy-calm Loch Slapin, the Black Cuillin were skirted by an avalanche of igneous rocks as old as the dinosaurs. The coast was thick with purple-budding heather and orchestrated by the faint flap of cormorants drying their wings, diva-like, in the sun. Below, there was just as much to inhabit our imaginations: soft-pink maerl beds and sea kelp shifting at a funereal pace at odds with schools of wriggling fish.

Travelling by SUP is a green way to see Skye

(Rich Hendry)

Our first destination was an unnamed coral island, a sandy skerry to get any adventurer dreaming. Beyond, the ruins of the village of Boreraig, a reminder of the Highland clearances, had the smashed-in teeth of a giant, but we were focused on the speck of land that would turn heads in the Caribbean. It was all soft, cockleshell-sown sand encircled by a ring of brilliant blue and our boards v-shaped hulls eased through the water, past swirls of seaweed and onto the shore. The easy-won reward was a private island for the afternoon. Mind you, its not like this every day, was Donalds down-to-earth reminder. Ive been here when its been more like an Atlantic squall.

That evening, with no such forecast, we set up tents and lit a beach fire further along the Sleat peninsula beside dilapidated Dunscaith Castle near Tokavaig. There were no other tents or camper vans, only the hunched shoulders of the Cuillins in the dusky half-light and the rhythmic chug of a sole creel fishing boat heading out to sea. By morning, we had packed and gone, leaving only our gently smoking coals behind.

It was all soft, cockleshell-sown sand encircled by a ring of brilliant blue and our boards v-shaped hulls eased through the water, past swirls of seaweed and onto the shore

For most paddle boarders, Skye is a blank map. Donald often plans trips to the island of Soay, almost uninhabited and home to a curious, if failed, basking shark factory, and to Spar Cave, a cathedral-shaped sea inlet. It was once abseiled into by Bear Grylls and his unlikely sidekick Ben Stiller and is now more popular than ever. Dont let that put you off; its truly wondrous.

The next day, the weather turning to fog and a smirr of rain, we deflated and packed away our boards and set an improvised course for Kyle Rhea and Loch Alsh on Skyes busy east coast: a good call. Our destination was another of the islands bypassed highlights the 14th-century ruin of Caisteal Maol, once the clan seat of Findanus MacKinnon who supposedly married a Norse princess nicknamed Saucy Mary. Its a romantic place right enough, all Outlander time-travel and swoonsome views.

Paddleboarding lets you get up close and personal with Skyes coastline

(Rich Hendry)

From here, we paddled deep into Skyes Inner Sound ferry-gliding, as Donald called it to use the flow of water to move our boards sideways across the strait. The Skye Bridge was a carousel of camper vans, tour buses and cars, but as the tidal current carried us beneath it and away from the traffic, peaceful Loch Carron and the empty islands of Scalpay and Raasay came into view. And then the sun shone.

Squinting, it was possible to see the haunting landscapes of Sligachan and the Red Cuillin, and beyond that Trotternish with its car parks and world-class Celtic monuments, the Old Man of Storr and Quiraing. All were no doubt overrun with day-trippers and smartphone wielders, but here we were alone, with no one else besides us on the water. Just two men bobbing in tight neoprene and at peace with the sea.

Mike MacEacheran was a guest of Explore Highland, which offers a series of bespoke, guided SUP camping trips throughout northwest Scotland. A full day, including use of a Red Paddle Co. touring board, costs from 270 based on three adults. Prices for multi-day camping trips to Skye on request. Paddleboards were supplied by Red Paddle Co. and SUP kit by Red Original.

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Skye by SUP: The ultimate sustainable way to see this Scottish island - The Independent

By Florida Weekly Staff | on October 20, 2021

In the dog days of summer, Bank of the Islands CEO Geoff Roepstorff knew the COVID-19 restrictions put in place for the safety of the banks customers and employees were taking a toll on the staff. His team of bankers missed the camaraderie of being with each other and their customers before the days of masks and plexiglass dividers.

So Mr. Roepstorff launched Awesome August, during which office protocols were changed to make things a little more fun. An example included sneakers and comfortable flat footwear for the staff on Fridays.

Then he challenged his wife and BOTI President Robbie Roepstorff to take on activities for the next month, and Santa in September was born.

There was something new and fun to surprise the staff with every week, Mr. Roepstorff said of the program that took place in all four offices of Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands. There were gifts of ornaments, poems, Christmas-related emojis, mini-stockings stuffed with sweet treats and cash, even a holiday pizza party, he said. The highlight had to be the Christmas Couture contest. Richard Sheras costume from his red socks to his Santa mask made him the clear winner on Sanibel

The employee morale program is in full swing with Optimistic October.

I came into work to find a lottery ticket on my desk, said David Lowden, BOTI vice president-private client relations. I havent checked to see if Im a winner yet, but I am indeed feeling very optimistic.

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Bank of the Islands staff enjoys an optimistic workplace - Florida Weekly

The centuries-old game is steeped in history from legendary players, incredible sporting moments and hallowed courts sculpted to host the world-famous sport. Many of the finest tennis courts from around the world are spectacles in their own right with exquisite designs and picturesque surroundings. From cliffside courts to historic lawns, the best clay incites some spectacular tennis wanderlust. These are the 11 most beautiful tennis courts from around the world.

The ultimate game of tennis amidst the trees, Hotel du Caps centerpieces are the five clay tennis courts living under a canopy of Aleppo pines, palms and olive trees. Stunning views and high-quality courts are only half the story, theres even a certified coach available upon request.

In a quiet location in the centre of the car-free village of Mrren, the Sportchalet is just 300 metres from the ski area and offersclaytennis courts, free Wi-Fi, a bar, and a sun terrace.With uninterrupted views of the swiss alps, you will be wanting to spend all day hitting a game or two with your family and friends.

The Gstaad Palace hosts the annual Allianz Swiss Tennis Open Gstaad, attracting tennis greats with its sweeping views of the Swiss Alps. If youre interested in improving your skills at the famous spot, former number one tennis player Roy Emerson hosts teaching classes here.

On the edge of the largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda lives thehistoric Tennis Club Malcesine. The beautiful spot in the Italian Alps provides magnificent views for a quality match in any season.

If youre in search of a unique venue, we doubt theres anything that will match a game of tennis inside a 16th-century Milan church. The work of artist Asad Raza, the bright orange tennis court sits beneath holy relics at Milans Chiesa San Paolo Converso.

Is there a better setting for a tennis match than the sun-kissed Amalfi Coast? This hard court is part of the luxury San Pietro di Positano hotel offering terraced cliffs as a backdrop. It hardly gets much better than playing a game on the quality courts and finishing with a post-match dip in the Mediterranean Sea mere metres away.

La Quinta Resorts centre court provides unique views of Californias towering palms and rugged rock formations. The tennis resort has hosted world-class professionals like Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic in the past. Excellent weather and breathtaking surroundings ensure this remains one of the most beautiful tennis courts from around the world.

One of the top tennis resorts in the world sits on the northwest coast of Hawaiis big island, in majestic Kuanaoa Bay. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotels Seaside Tennis Club features 11 courts right on the oceans edge providing the best private luxury tennis club amenities, highly sought-after tennis experiences and stunning views.

Its no surprise tennis legend Rafael Nadal has one of the finest tennis resorts in the world spanning 400 hectares in northern Greece. The impressive facility boasts eight perfect clay courts with after-games swims in the Aegean Sea all modeled after the former number ones successful centre in Cancun, Mexico.

The Brando is a unique luxury resort on French Polynesias breathtakingly beautiful private island of Tetiaroa an atoll composed of a dozen small islands surrounding a sparkling lagoon 30 miles northeast of Tahiti. The Brando offers carefree luxury in the midst of pristine nature. With access to the island by private plane, the resort features 35 villas on white-sand beaches frequented by sea turtles, manta rays and exotic birds. The resort was designed to reflect Polynesian lifestyles and culture and the prestigious grass tennis courts at this resort are one of our favorites from the list.

If youre a fan of the history of tennis, then this is the place to explore. From previously playing host to many major tournaments, the Rhode Island facility is now home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame honoring the games legendary players. Visitors can enjoy the 13 grass, 6 hard and 1 clay courts of venture into the museum to explore the 1,900 artifacts from tennis history.

If youre playing a game at one of the best tennis courts in the world, then youll need to look the part as well. Find yourself the best golf apparel for women or check out the best brands for mens golf attire and properly complete the outfit with the stunning diamond tennis bracelet.

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Bucket List Top 10: The Most Beautiful Tennis Courts From Around the World - The Market Herald

Issued on: 20/10/2021 - 17:52Modified: 20/10/2021 - 17:50

La Palma Island (Spain) (AFP)

The emaciated dogs are stranded in two empty water tanks in the town of Todoque, flanked by slow moving lava flows from the Cumbre Vieja volcano that erupted on September 19.

The molten rock has so far covered over 760 hectares (1,885 acres) of land and destroyed around 2,000 buildings although prompt evacuations have helped avoid fatalities in the island, part of the Canary Islands off northwest Africa.

On its way to the Atlantic Ocean, the lava has spared a few areas by creating "islands" of land that remain relatively unharmed such as the spot where the dogs are.

Local animal association Leales.org sounded the alarm after it became aware of the plight of the dogs in early October, and arranged for two drone firms to drop of food and water for the animals, which have lost weight since becoming trapped.

It also approached Spanish industrial drone operator Aerocameras to see if it could use one of its larger machines normally used to transport cargo to pluck the dogs to safety.

Reaching the animals on foot is impossible as this would require walking on scorching lava and helicopters cannot fly in the area because the ash and hot gas from the volcano could damage their rotors, said Leales.org spokesman Alejandro Molina.

"This is the only way to do it," he told AFP.

An Aerocameras crew arrived on the island on Monday after receiving the green light from local authorities to carry out the rescue operation. Under Spanish law drones are normally not allowed to transport people or animals.

The company's CEO Jaime Pereira said the plan was to send a 50 kilo (110 pounds) drone equipped with a wide net to trap the dogs one by one and then fly them to safety.

"We don't have experience transporting a live animal by drone, nor does anyone," he told private television Telecinco.

The success of the mission will depend largely on how the dogs respond to the drone, he added.

"The dog could react by running away, moving, jumping," Pereira said.

"There are those who say that the dog could fracture a bone, have a heart attack. Of course there are all sorts of risks but either we get them out or probably in a few days or weeks they will no longer exist."

No date has been set for the rescue operation. Aerocameras, which is carrying out the operation for free, staged a trial run on Wednesday.

A man has come forward as the owner of the dogs, Molina said. If the operation is succesful and the dogs have microchips which confirm he is the owner, they will be returned to him, he added.

2021 AFP

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Drone rescue plan for dogs trapped by Spanish island eruption - FRANCE 24