MH Vatavaran, the Environment Society of Miranda House in collaboration with AAVYA , presented a documentary “Dominion”, an Aussie Farms production under the Farms Transparency Project showcasing the horrors and barbaric, inhumane behavior meted out to the animals of dairy industry. Here's a brief report on one of the animals the documentary discusses about.
Seals and Dolphins are already in the list of endangered species and still are used in water games for entertaining tourists. They are kept in small, confined pools where their swimming capacity reduces and they often cry out in distress. When in wild open waters, dolphins are known to travel upto 65km or 40 miles per day, foraging for food and playing, fighting among their pods with fellow dolphins. They also share the features of self-awareness, intuition and empathy with humans and great apes. Around 80% of the sea-bred Australian dolphins are present in captivity, kept under hunger situations to be displayed in water games showing flips and tricks for food in front of eager audiences.
Also, over $133 million is instituted for dolphin protection but barely 1% is spent on research, rescue and rehabilitation initiatives. Even though the Australian Federal government in 1985 ruled the closure of dolphinariums over extreme health conditions of the beasts in such places, still today 2 dolphinariums exist in the garb of rescue and rehabilitation centers. Also, in other parts of the world dolphin abuse is practiced highly such as Taiji , Japan where every year from September - March, thousands of dolphins and other cetaceans are captured and slaughtered by fishermen either for money or considering them as pests. Dolphins trainers assist the fishermen in such deeds and might spare some dolphins for transporting to the aquariums and dolphin parks around the world luring money.
Solution Report for Protection of Seals and Dolphins
Seals and Dolphins are marine animals which are recklessly used in aquatic games for entertainment purposes. Their protection is very crucial since they are on the verge of extinction rapidly. The following steps could be significant in their safeguarding :
At the Legal level :
Uncompromising laws need to be framed for the shielding of aquatic animals especially cetaceans like dolphins and pinnipeds like seals etc. For example, U.S. has a well-designed law Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) enacted in 1972 for protection of aquatic animals especially those listed in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
The laws formulated must act to prohibit establishment of dolphinariums for aquatic games, trafficking of seals and dolphins for such purposes and their killing in case of unfit for living should be vigorously abated.
Their keeping in confined spaces such as pools , botanical or biological parks should also be regulated according to the physical attitude of seals and dolphins i.e. taking care of their mobility, nutrition etc.
At the Infrastructural level :
Veterinary hospital and doctors need to be recruited and appointed at various habitat areas of dolphins and seals to keep a check on their health.
Marine guards for keeping a check on the trafficking or killing or illegal captivity of these animals should be appointed near the habitat zones of such animals.
Keeping the waters clean and pollution-free is also equally important for their proper respiration, mobility etc.
At the Society and Individual level :
People participating as an audience in aquatic games should refrain from doing so to discourage such activities and thus indirectly protecting dolphins and seals from exploitation.
People can form collectives to raise voice against such extremities performed upon these animals. They can take to social media to highlight atrocities being committed to seals and dolphins.
If the above measures are executed properly, then we can create a safe environment for seals and dolphins for them to live like their usual self.
- By Harsha, 2nd year, B.A.(H) Sociology
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