PTI | Jan 8, 2013

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.


 
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