This is beyond inhumane.
Though it is possible for dolphins to survive out of the water, it is unnatural and inhumane for them to do so for extended periods of time. According to Femke Den Haas, founder of the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), this is because gravity causes the mammals pain and because noise can be excruciating without water as a buffer. She told The Dodo:
“Dolphins are supposed to live in the ocean where their bodies are light. When they’re out of the water, gravity hurts them. The noise would also hurt them, and the extreme stress they are exposed to is killing them.”
When Den Haas said this, she was referring to footage which shows dolphins with an Indonesian traveling circus being transported from Jakarta to Balikpanan in less-than-ideal conditions.
The video shows at least one dolphin being laid across a fabric stretcher that hung low inside a dry, coffin-like box. After it was fitted in the harnesses, a damp towel (which quickly became dry due to evaporation) was draped across the dolphin’s back. As the animal is being moved into the plane’s cargo hold (below), another dolphin can be heard in the crate nearby, clicking and whistling. Both were being transported to perform in another circus show.
Credit: JAAN
This footage draws attention to the horrendous conditions many aquatic animals are forced to endure for the sake of human entertainment, particularly in Indonesia. The Dodo reports that once the dolphins were transported to their destination, they were likely driven to the circuses’ new location and placed in plastic-lined pools. In the wild, dolphins and whales can swim up to 100 miles per day. In small pools that are filled with artificial salt water laced with chlorine, they have no choice but to stay idle. Den Haas also points out that the chlorine in the water can both burn the dolphins’ eyes and make them prone to skin diseases. In summary, they’re suffering.
Credit: JAAN
The stressful travel in addition to the rigorous demand from their trainers makes it easy to comprehend why dolphins live substantially shorter lives in captivity than they do in the wild. In the wild, a dolphin can live up to 40 years. In captivity, however, a four or five-year lifespan is average, says Den Haas.
JAAN and Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project are collaborating to put an end to the Indonesian traveling circus industry. By putting pressure on Sriwijaya Air, the airline that currently transports the dolphins, activists hope that change will be realized.
Credit: JAAN
Reportedly, a similar incident was captured on film in 2013. Commented Den Haas:
“We obtained similar footage in 2013, when Garuda [another airline] was transporting dolphins from Bali to Java. Gardua has since declared to never transport captive dolphins again.”
“It makes me angry that this is still happening,” she added. “It’s a dolphin’s worst nightmare,” Den Haas added.
SEEK THE TRUTH. EDUCATE YOURSELF.Watch this shocking footage of how the dolphins are transported.Why do dolphins have to be taken out of their habitat, the ocean, fly around Indonesia only to entertain people?The gravity, the noise, and the stress kills them.Dolphin show is an act of exploitation.Please don't do anything that support the cruelty! Please share and be voice for them!We will never stop fighting this crime. It's time to see dolphin shows banned forever.-BONGKAR KENYATAANNYA. EDUKASI DIRIMU.Tonton 'dokumentasi mencengangkan' tentang bagaimana mereka membawa lumba-lumba.Kenapa lumba-lumba harus diculim dari habitatnya di lautan kemudia diterbangka ke seluruh Indonesia hanya untuk tersiksa menghibur manusia?Gravitasi, suara bising dan stress membunuh mereka perahan.Pertunjukan lumba-lumba adalah praktik eksploitasi. Tolong jangan ikut berkontribusi dan mendukung kekejaman ini dalam hal apapun.Bantu sebarkan dan jadilah suara bagi mereka! Inilah saatnya bagi pertunjukan lumba-lumba untuk dilarang selamanya.#stopsirkuslumba #stopdolphinshow #jakartaanimalaidnetwork #emptythetanks #againstanimalcruelty #stopwildlifexploitation #Sriwijayaair #lumbalumba #balikpapan #satwaliarlebihindahdialam #jangankonyol #stopeksploitasiberkedokedukasi #prowildlife
Posted by Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) on Wednesday, January 18, 2017
If you’d like to help, please sign this petition. You can also donate to JAAN to help put an end to the dolphin circus industry in Indonesia.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
This article (Footage Shows Circus Dolphin Packed Into Dry Crate Between Shows [Watch]) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and TrueActivist.com
