Dolphin Circus:
When Human Joy Is
at the Expense of
Wildlife
By: Azmi Masfiyati
Translator: Raden Destyana Yunissa Prizka
Dolphins are intelligent marine mammals with brains that are on par with human intelligence. They are gregarious creatures that inhabit colonies.
The most well-known dolphin species is the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). They live in all warm oceans, with the exception of the South and Arctic Oceans.
With the use of nets and snares, captive and circus dolphins are frequently captured from the wild. Their physical and mental health are impacted by these therapies, which also cause them stress and injury.
It is the responsibility of those who keep wild animals to ensure their welfare. Dolphins and other marine creatures are unlikely to receive adequate care, though. Their environment in captivity differs greatly from their natural habitat. People are unable to adequately meet their needs.
According to the most recent studies, dolphins exhibit a greater spectrum of emotion than humans and are sensitive beings. They ought to be treated with dignity, allowed to remain in their natural habitat, and kept safe. Benefits from captivity are exclusive to the sector. S
ince keeping dolphins in captivity is bad for both their welfare and the population of dolphins in the wild, it has no educational value. Serious issues confronting Indonesia include illicit trade and uncontrolled dolphin fishing. Regretfully, despite the fact that those issues may jeopardise Indonesia’s biodiversity and reputation in general, officials choose to ignore them.
Source:
Brownell, RL. and Reeves, R.R. (2008) Biological background on Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiop spp.) .)
in the life-capture trade and specifically on the Indio-Pacific Bottlenose dolphin, T. Aduncus.
Nick Carter, “Effects of Psycho-Physiological Stress on Captive Dolphins”, Humane Society Institute for
Science and Policy Animal Studies Repository, http://animalstudiesrepository.org/acwp_wmm/9/
(Diakses pada tanggal 27 September 2017 pukul 13.15)
Thomas I. White, dan Conrad N. Hilton, 2007, “A Primer on Human Personhood, Cetacean Rights and
„Flourishing ”, http://indefenseofdolphins.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/primer.pdf, (diakses
pada tanggal 27 September 2017 pukul 15.47)
Nick Carter, “Effects of Psycho-Physiological…”, Op. Cit., hlm. 195
https://www.jakartaanimalaid.com/domesticprograms/ric-obarry-dolphin-readaptation-centre
