States told to not grant permission for dolphinariums

States told to not grant permission for dolphinariums
PTI | Jan 8, 2013, 02.29 PM IST

NEW DELHI: A high-level environment ministry panel has asked the state governments not to grant permission for dolphinariums after animal rights organizations voiced concern about the welfare of wild species to be held captive in such proposed private facilities.

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the statutory body under the environment ministry, also asked the chief wildlife wardens of states to withhold permission to any persons, government or private players that proposes to import any Cetacean species for commercial exhibition or research purposes.

Dolphinariums are commercial captive facilities that house wild dolphins that have been captured "through cruel methods like drive captures", says FIAPO, an animal rights organization.

Recently proposals for dolphinariums had come up in Kochi, Sindhudurg and Noida and the animal rights organizations including FIAPO had presented comprehensive evidence based on scientific research on issues involved in keeping dolphins captive.

Welcoming the AWBI adivory, Puja Mitra, FIAPO's campaign manager said, "This move of the AWBI's is a big step forward to ensure that India never has captive dolphins - a barbaric practice that is fast being phased out internationally."

"Additionally, dolphinariums have absolutely no conservation or educational value," she said in a statement.

India's only brush with dolphins in captivity was in the late 1990's in Chennai's Dolphin City exhibit, where four dolphins were imported from Bulgaria and died within a few months due to lack of care and suitable infrastructure.

A number of countries such as United Kingdom, Brazil and Chile have banned Dolphins in captivity.

This is a welcome move. It is good that a directive has been issued to the states against granting permissions for promoting dolphin exhibitions. These dolphinariums are giving rise to the abhorrent practice of capturing dolphins and training them through use of cruel methods and subjecting them to displays for special shows. We are against any move to curb the freedom of these wild species. If any one wants to do research then he/she should do it by venturing into the wilds.