MUMBAI: The campaign to save dolphins from captivity in India saw massive support across the country this Earth Day , with hundreds pledging never to visit any facility which holds dolphins and other cetaceans in captivity. In recent months, several proposals to establish dolphinaria, captive facilities that house dolphins and other cetacean species in concrete tanks for display or performance for commercial entertainment have been put forth across the country. FIAPO, a national animal protection federation has been leading the campaign to save cetaceans from captivity in India in partnership with the Global Green Grants Fund, Born Free Foundation (UK), Earth Island Institute (USA) and Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (Bangalore).

A FIAPO spokesperson said “ We have launched a national pledge through Avaaz which has already seen hundreds of supporters pledging never to go to a facility which holds cetaceans in captivity. The recent national advisory issued by the AWBI against the establishment of dolphinaria in India as well as the Central Zoo Authority's assurance that they are not in favour of dolphinaria have been a great boost to the campaign as well. This solidarity is crucial in ensuring that the MoEF enacts a stringent prohibition on the keeping of any cetaceans in captivity in India”.

Support has also been pouring in from animal protection organisations, activists and environmental organisations such as Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, People for Animals Mysore, Blue Cross, Jaipur Federation of Animal Protection Organisations, All Kerala Rivers Protection Council and many more across the country, who have conducted leafleting and pledge signing activities on the global Day of Action, also Earth Day.

Internationally, support from Canada, Scotland, United States, England and Italy has been seen, with many organisations gathering pledges, meeting officials from Indian embassies in their countries and also writing to Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan , Minister of Environment & Forests requesting to prohibit captive cetacean facilities in India.

“Cetaceans are currently protected in India under the Wildlife Protection Act and we are confident that the MoEF will becoming a leading example of sensitive and proactive legislation in support of the animal protection movement and prohibit the establishment of dolphinaria in India”, said FIAPO’s spokesperson.