17 May 2013 – India\u2019s Ministry of Environment and Forests has decided to forbid the keeping of captive dolphins for public entertainment anywhere in the country.<\/p>\n
In a policy statement released Friday [17 May 2013], the ministry advised state governments to reject any proposal to establish a dolphinarium \u201cby any person \/ persons, organizations, government agencies, private or public enterprises that involves import, capture of cetacean species to establish for commercial entertainment, private or public exhibition and interaction purposes whatsoever.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement issued by B.S. Bonal, the member secretary of the Central Zoo Authority of India, acknowledges that cetaceans in general do not survive well in captivity, saying, \u201cConfinement in captivity can seriously compromise the welfare and survival of all types of cetaceans by altering their behaviour and causing extreme distress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noting that India\u2019s national aquatic animal, the Ganges River dolphin, as well as the snubfin dolphin are listed in Schedule-I and all cetacean species are listed in Schedule II part I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the ministry said it is important to protect these endangered species from captivity and exploitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhereas cetaceans in general are highly intelligent and sensitive, and various scientists who have researched dolphin behavior have suggested that the unusually high intelligence; as compared to other animals means that dolphin should be seen as \u2018non-human persons\u2019 and as such should have their own specific rights and is morally unacceptable to keep them captive for entertainment purpose,\u201d the ministry said.<\/p>\n
The grassroots Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organization, FIAPO, was pleased with the decision. This group took the lead in campaigning to ban dolphinaria in India, meeting with key ministry officials and garnering local grassroots support.<\/p>\n
FIAPO spokesperson Puja Mitra called the decision \u201ca huge victory for the dolphins!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIndia has become a beacon of hope for the global movement to protect cetaceans from captivity, and we thank Minister Jayanthi Natarajan for setting the benchmark in animal protection for the world,\u201d Mitra said.<\/p>\n
FIAPO has been working with their partners Born Free Foundation, Global Green Grants Fund, Earth Island Institute\u2019s Dolphin Project and Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation to bring about this prohibition in India for the past year.<\/p>\n
Ric O\u2019Barry, a former dolphin trainer who now serves as director of the U.S.-based Earth Island Institute\u2019s Dolphin Project, applauded India\u2019s new policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a huge win for dolphins,\u201d said O\u2019Barry. Not only has the Indian government spoken out against cruelty, they have contributed to an emerging and vital dialogue about the ways we think about dolphins \u2013 as thinking, feeling beings rather than pieces of property to make money off of.\u201d<\/p>\n
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2013. All rights reserved.<\/i><\/p>\n