India’s Animal Welfare Board Advises ‘No’ on Dolphinariums

In an important step toward advocacy for dolphins, the Animal Welfare Board of India has advised state governments and wildlife wardens to oppose any efforts to capture or transport dolphins or to keep dolphins, porpoises or whales in captivity. The Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory board to the Indian government on matters relevant to animal welfare.

The board ruled that dolphin shows and exhibits would violate the 1960 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The national advisory is in response to commercial efforts to set up five dolphin theme parks across India. These facilities would set a dangerous precedent in a country with a disastrous record of caring for dolphins in captivity. There have been no captive dolphins in India since 1998, when a small pod of dolphins held at Dolphin City amusement park died within six months of capture.

Kimmela has been working with the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) to provide the scientific evidence that shows dolphins and whales fare very poorly in captivity, suffering from stress-related diseases and behavioral abnormalities, and that counters the claim that dolphin displays are educational (Marino et al. 2010). FIAPO argues that not only is there no educational value to dolphin displays, but there is “reason to believe that captive cetacean attractions actually mis-educate the public about wildlife and the marine environment”.

“There is reason to believe that captive cetacean attractions actually mis-educate the public about wildlife and the marine environment.”

Kimmela is also working with FIAPO and two collaborating organizations, Earth Island Institute and Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, to supply the rigorous scientific foundation for public outreach materials on the welfare status of captive cetacean species in dolphinariums worldwide. These materials will provide the Indian public with information critical to understanding why the dolphinariums should be opposed.

The response of the Animal Welfare Board of India is an important milepost and very encouraging sign to dolphin advocates. But there is still much work to be done as the statement is not binding and is being challenged by the pro-dolphinarium contingent. We continue efforts to shore up public opposition to the dolphinariums and provide unassailable evidence that India’s government cannot ignore as the fight over dolphinariums continues.

“We’re taking big strides forward in being the most compassionate nation on Earth,” said Arpan Sharma, chief executive of FIAPO. Kimmela will continue to help FIAPO move this statement closer to reality than ever before.

5 Replies to “India’s Animal Welfare Board Advises ‘No’ on Dolphinariums”

  1. How wonderful to see this advisory board actually represent the best interests of the animals instead of the monied interests of the few. There is absolutely no doubt that captivity subjects these sentient beings to miserable and shortened lives and there is no education to be had from this cruel treatment of them, except to see the lies and deception that corporations use to get their way. I applaud this Animal Welfare Board & know Gandhi would be very proud!

    1. Yes, I agree with Patty, and I also applaud the Animal Welfare Board of India. Stories like this give one hope for the human race – and for the survival of our beautiful planet and its precious creatures.

  2. Thank you so much for posting this encouraging news! In a world gone mad exploiting cetaceans and their natural home, there are too few positive stories supporting the right of dolphins to live at all, or at least the way that they were meant to live. With the nonhumanrights.org court case coming up, I’m eager to see what 2013 holds in the area of legal rights for animals, and will be watching this site to keep updated.

    I applaud YOU, Dr. Marino in the progress you’ve made getting REAL education out to the public regarding the damage done to dolphins in captivity.

  3. Excellent blog you have here.. It’s difficult to find excellent writing like yours these days.
    I really appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

  4. Yes! Finally something about arf.

Comments are closed.