India Moves to Block Dolphin Shows, Citing Cruelty

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times

January 11, 2013, 7:09 am
India Moves to Block Dolphin Shows, Citing Cruelty
By JOHN UPTON

Indian animal welfare officials moved this week to block plans to put performing dolphins on display at theme parks and malls across the country, saying it would violate federal laws about cruelty to animals.

At least five dolphin park proposals have been floated in recent years by businesses and local governments, with the plans aimed at providing India’s increasingly affluent middle class with a new and exotic form of entertainment.

In a letter Monday the Animal Welfare Board of India directed state governments and wildlife wardens to block any efforts to capture or transport dolphins, or to keep dolphins, porpoises or whales in captivity. The board ruled that dolphin shows and exhibits would violate the 1960 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

“All types of studies have shown that these animals, after capture, are under a very high level of stress,” said S. Chinny Krishna, the board’s vice-chairman, in a telephone interview. “A wild animal belongs in the wild. That’s why they’re called wild animals – these are not domestic animals.”


Read more: http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/india-moves-to-block-dolphin-shows-citing-cruelty/?ref=asia

[Brigid]

1. It's fine if they're concerned about dolphins.

Now if they'd start caring about their women
. . .

[tk2kewl]

2. exactly what I was thinking

Nt

[Politicub]

4. People can walk and chew gum at the same time

You should try it. Dealing with injustice doesn't have to be sequential. It's why you have different departments of government and advocacy organizations.

[Politicub]

3. The photos of people who go on dolphin experience excursions during a cruise make me sick

Ever since watching the Cove, I would never contribute to the abuse of these intelligent creatures.

If you haven't seen the Cove, you should. It's one of the best made but hardest to watch documentaries I've ever seen. It's about a town in Japan whose chief export is dolphins for show (and sometimes food). Capturing the dolphins results in a bloody massacre, and you can hear the cries from the slaughter from microphones covertly placed in the water.

Good for the people of India for taking a stand!

[marble falls]

5. Its safer to be dolphin that it is to be female in India.

[TygrBright]

6. Waitaminnit... Are these the people who think it's okay to rape women who aren't "respected?"

(And they define "respected," of course.)

These guys? They're worried about cruelty?

To dolphins?

Well, I guess that's a good thing. Now if they can just evolve to apply the same tender concern to other mammals... like the female members of their own species...

wearily,
Bright

[and-justice-for-all]

7. Its the Animal Welfare Board of India...

but who says they are OK with the way women are treated?

[cbayer]

8. Good for them. Anyone who hasn't seen The Cove, should.

What we do to these animals is shameful.