Dolphins don't belong in tanks, and India seems to be making sure that they won't be put there.

When PETA India and others learned that state governments were aiming to build dolphin parks in Tamil Nadu, Noida, Kochi in Kerala, and Maharashtra, we immediately got in touch with the Minister of Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan. We reminded her that the Animal Welfare Board of India has not issued any performance certificates for cetaceans and has decided not to issue performance certificates for cetaceans in the future – therefore, any attempt to import these animals for the purpose of display and performance would be in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and rules framed under it.

"In their rightful ocean homes, dolphins establish close, cooperative and long-standing relationships", says PETA India Corporate and Government Affairs Liaison Sarfaraz Syed. "They live in large, intricate social groups, swim together in family pods and can travel up to 100 miles a day. In aquariums and marine parks, these animals can swim only in endless circles in enclosures that to them are like bathtubs and are unable to engage in most natural behaviours. They are forced to perform silly tricks for food and are frequently torn away from family members as they're shuffled between parks."

This week, Natarajan announced that the ministry will not allow dolphinaria.

PETA will continue to urge state governments to drop their plans. You can help! Take action here.

A delegation from PETA met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to present a letter from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) objecting to plans to build a dolphin park in Sindhudurg. Animal protection organisations are unanimously opposed to this cruel proposal.

The MoEF rightfully points out that it is illegal to hunt and capture animals protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. What's more, multiple studies have determined that keeping dolphins and other marine animals in captivity leads to suffering and premature death because their complex needs simply cannot be met in cramped and barren tanks.

Dolphins inhabit vast and fascinating worlds in their ocean home and establish close, cooperative and long-standing relationships. They swim freely and socialise in family groups and can cover up to 100 miles a day. Dolphins used in marine parks are violently torn away from their families and confined to small tanks in which they can only swim in endless circles and perform tricks for food. Most captive dolphins die far short of their expected lifespan.

Time is of the essence to get this plan stopped! Please contact the Maharashtra Chief Minister at chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in, the Minister of Tourism, India, at tourismminister@nic.in and the Maharashtra Forest Minister at min.forest@maharashtra.gov.in and urge them to abandon plans to open a dolphinarium in Sindhudurg.

Posted by PETA