despite research that shows dolphins being very sensitive and intelligent, many Bali facilities continue to hold captive cetaceans for purposes commercial.
With India recently declaring dolphins as those "non-human", and the prohibition of all dolphin shows, it might come as a surprise that Indonesia is home to some the last remaining circuses of dolphins in the world. Specifically, Wersut Seguni Indonesia in Kendal, Central Java, have loans and selling dolphins for entertainment facilities across the country, including Bali. In fact, in addition to Java island vacation takes an active role in the disturbing commercial exploitation of these highly intelligent mammals.
The last dolphin profitable business to open in Bali has attracted criticism from civil society organizations storm, both in Indonesia and internationally. The Wake Bali Adventure Park at Keramas currently holds four dolphins in a chlorinated pool 10 by 20 meters; a practice many say could undermine and ultimately kill mammals.
Jakarta Network Animal Aid (JAAN) Verification dolphins at Melka Hotel, Bali
"Surprisingly, it meets the highly criticized official standards established by the Ministry Forests in 2014, which state that captive dolphins only need a pool that is two meters deep and twice the length of dolphin "says Femke Den Haas, a rescue coordinator and wildlife rehabilitation and founder of animal Aid Network Jakarta (JAAN).
These lower quality requirements are shocking, especially since dolphins are ly unsuited to life in captivity. "Dolphins are very social. In the ocean, they swim dozens of miles a day with other dolphins. Inside the pools, they can only swim in circles, not reach deep and can not swim Online right, "said Den Haas. "They are also unable to use their sonar in the pools, which is very important for communication and navigation in the ocean because it bounces off them concrete walls."
"In the ocean, dolphins would feed on live fish, while in captivity, they are fed only during work hours. They are rewarded with a piece of fish after each round" she continues. "This means they are kept hungry so they do. The dolphins travel shows even make them jump through hoops of fire. A dolphin would never do it if desperate for food."
Den Haas visited the four dolphins just after arriving in Wake Bali Adventure Park last year and organized a demonstration at the opening of the facility. "The dolphins were still very healthy at the time they were simply brought, yet less than a year one of the dolphins became blind chlorine in the pool," she said. "The dolphin was then reduced to Wersut Seguni Indonesia Central Java, a journey of 30 hours, and exchanged for another. "
letters According Den Haas, over 25 organizations wildlife sent expressing concern about detainees dolphins the Wake Bali Adventure Park at the Ministry of Environment and Forests (it is the Ministry of Environment and Forests, rather than the Ministry of maritime Affairs and fisheries, which oversees captive dolphins in Indonesia) but with little success. Even a petition demanding the release of four dolphins signed by 500,000 people failed to make a difference.
Unfortunately, this inaction is not unusual. After the Minister of the Environment and Forestry has agreed to the release of dolphins held Akame Dolphin Bay Restaurant Bali in 2013, the dolphins just finished the Wersut Seguni Indonesia captive center in Java. "The dolphins were supposed to be released, and the Minister had already agreed to be resettled in Karimun Jawa Rehabilitation Centre JAAN," said Den Haas. "Instead, they were taken away by night to Wersut Seguni Indonesia. To date, nothing has been done about it."
It is not only the Wake Bali Adventure Park in bashing the whale for commercial purposes. Den Haas said that in addition to the many dolphins facilities in Java, dolphins are currently being held at the Hotel Melka in Lovina and the Dolphin Lodge in Serangan, Bali. "Although the Hotel Melka keeps dolphins inside little chlorinated pools, Serangan keeps them in the bay. The water is dirty with a lot of garbage and plastic, and dolphins are confined to small cages. "
the practice of capturing and holding dolphins in captivity for commercial exploitation is in fact illegal under the law on biodiversity No. 5, 1990, which states that dolphins can not be held captive for the purpose of search and rescue. Unfortunately, many use legal loopholes to continue the cruel practice of capturing, trafficking and exploitation of mammals.
"It is easy to mislead the authorities as to whether the dolphins were captured or rescued after they got entangled in fishing nets," says Femke. "Even if a dolphin somehow was caught in a net - which is unlikely - Indonesian law stipulates that they must be released immediately into the ocean Despite this, the Ministry of Environment and Forests continues. allowing commercial institutions such as Wersut Seguni Indonesia to keep dolphins after would have been saved. "
Although the appropriate legislation and rehabilitation for dolphins are more or less in place, it seems that not many take notice. Hopefully the continued pressure from civil society organizations and people refusing to see dolphins in captivity will encourage the government to take action and show the world that Bali and Indonesia stand against cruelty to animals.
For more information on Jakarta Animal Aid Network, please visit www.jakartaanimalaid.com
Dolphin educational video by Jakarta Animal Aid Network and Friends of Animals Yogyakarta: