India: establishment of dolphinarium not allowed / Ministry states that dolphins should be seen as non-humn persons !

By governmental circular dated 17th May 2013,the Ministry of Environment and Forests has decided not to allow establishment of dolphinarium in India.

This is a courageous, remarkable and absolutely unprecedented decision.

The most interesting part of the circular is reproduced below;the Ministry recognizes that dolphins are highly intelligent and sensitive and SHOULD BE SEEN AS NON HUMAN PERSONS !

The Ministry also recognizes that cetaceans "in general" do not survive well in captivity.

 

F. No. 20-1/2010-CZA(M) DATE: 17.05.2013


Whereas cetaceans in general are highly intelligent and sensitive, and various scientists who have researched dolphin behavior have suggested that the unusually high intelligence; as compared to other animals means that dolphin should be seen as "non-human persons" and as such should have their own specific rights and is morally unacceptable to keep them captive for entertainment purpose,

Whereas , cetaceans in general do not survive well in captivity. Confinement in captivity can seriously compromise the welfare and survival of all types of cetaceans by altering their behaviour and causing extreme distress.

Therefore, in view of the foregoing, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India have decided not to allow establishment of dolpinarium in the country.

India: cages banned from 2017

Battery cages banned in India from 2017 | Daily Animal News

USA: Dog Bites by the Numbers

Infographic: Dog Bites by the Numbers

Interesting information about dog bites numbers in the USA.
70 million dogs and 4.5 million people bitten in 2011 for a total cost of 479 million $.

Australia: DAFF imposes stricter conditions on live exports to Kuwait

DAFF imposes stricter conditions on live exports to Kuwait - Topix

Labelling Matters campaign | Eurogroup For Animals

Labelling Matters campaign | Eurogroup For Animals

Australia: Agriculture ministers lobby to restore live trade exports

Agriculture ministers lobby to restore live trade exports - Topix

Issue: live stock export to Indonesia.

Read the article published by ABC News on the link above.

Here some excerpts:

"Queensland Agriculture Minister John McVeigh says he holds no animal welfare concerns about Australian live cattle exports to Indonesia as he pushes for an increase in trade."

He says while animal welfare issues in other countries are important, they are isolated incidents.

"If anyone is found guilty of any form of animal cruelty at any supply chain around the world, they need to be accountable," he said.

"Those isolated incidents are no reason to bring an industry and regional communities such as those in north-west Queensland to their knees."

Really isolated incidents ? Well I have some thoughts...Even if isolated ,these incidents obviously have a very negative impact on the meat business.

USA: In memory of Puppy Doe, Saint-Bernard puppy tortured and killed on 15th May 2012

Special tribute to an animal cruelty victim

One year ago, on the 15th of May 2012, a Saint-Bernard puppy called "Puppy Doe" (a female puppy) was tortured and killed in Dresden, Tennessee "just for fun" by two young men .You may read my posts about this story on this website.

Both men got away easily with just a slap on the wrist. No jail.

Let's have a thought for this little dog who lost his life one year ago and take this opportunity to think about the thousands of animals tortured and killed every day all over the world.

I declare this 15th May the "Puppy Doe Day "; may this sad story change the minds in Tennessee and in all other places where animals are still seen as objects which are at our disposal .

Animals are to be considered as sentient beings which deserve respect and compassion.