Boycott Dolphinariums!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The exhibition of cetaceans is becoming increasingly controversial because of environmental protection and non – humanity in many countries. Many countries, including Chile, Mexico, Antigua, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Slovenia and Cyprus, have regulated imports of dolphins for exhibition and aquarium exhibitions, and India banned on the display of cetacean aquariums in 2013. In the same year, the import of white whales caught in the wild was dismissed in the US. In addition, the European Union Parliament has been discussing the Dolphinaria-Free Europe with the IUCN-Cetacean Specialist Group.

Nevertheless, people still visit aquariums and the dolphin shows are still going on. Dolphins became means of making money in the aquarium to satisfy people’s curiosity and pleasure, and live in a cramped aquarium for the rest of their lives. And where are these dolphins from?

Every year, about 1,000 dolphins are slaughtered or sold into aquariums, including the internationally protected species, in the Japanese fishing village, Taiji.

Some of them survive as they are selected for aquariums. But, the dolphins that are in shocks from the death of family and friends suffer again.

The stresses during transport are also significant. Trucks are shaken at high speeds, and the vibrations intimately applied to the dolphins. Because the water does not change properly, the inside of the container is filled with feces and the dolphins suffer extreme stress. This cause mortality due to weakened immune system and bacterial growth.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a group of international scientists, has issued a statement that ‘capturing Cetacea alive is the same as killing.’ As well-known, whales trapped in aquariums have a dramatically lower survival rate compared to their natural state. The fact that dolphins, that can live on average for 30 or 40 years, die in the aquarium for about five years tells how deadly aquariums are.

Dolphins are clever, self-conscious, marine mammals that live in a social life. The reason dolphin shows attract people is because they do stunts. But it is also evidence that dolphins are being trained terribly at the same time. Dolphins cannot understand the circumstances, so the sense of despair is getting bigger and even vengeful.

 

On February 24, 2010, Tilikum pulled SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau into his pool and killed her. There were few more attacks like this and all of these happened from taming or harnessing dolphins trapped in a narrow aquarium. Many governments and aquariums, however, do not even consider the potential risks. The idea of trapping wild animals and taming them is more dangerous than you might think. This should not be overlooked.

Dolphins in shows and aquariums are caught 100% in the wild. The reason for the difficulty of breeding is because of stress in a small aquarium and the absence of education about breeding from mum. Aquarium dolphins have not viability.

They are not that different from us. They feel emotions and think like us. They make friends and love. They are part of nature even as we are. It is an anachronistic act to force these beautiful and marine animals to show for people’s simple pleasures. Now the future is going to the age of empathy with others.

Aquariums and shows are never educational. Children just see distressed dolphins. Sea worlds are seriously distorting the natural image. We need to consider whether it is fair and legitimate to abuse and kill wildlife for the profit of a few companies.

What’s so big deal about dolphins even it is hard to earn a living?

This is a matter of direction that our society needs to make toward ecological aspects through dolphins. How humane it is to keep dolphins swimming more than 100 kilometres a day in a tiny aquarium and making them entertained?

This is as bad as dolphin hunts. Maybe it’s worse than going to see the hunted dolphins.

 

Let’s boycott aquariums!

If we do not go to the aquarium, the aquarium will have to close. Then, captive dolphins will be able to return to their home, the ocean.

Do you still want to go there?

 

BN