Breaking: Plans to Open a Dolphinarium in Vietnam Have Been Rejected!
Plans to build a dolphinarium in Đà Nẵng, a city on the coast of Vietnam, have finally been rejected by authorities. The decision comes after PETA and other animal rights groups spoke out against the proposal.
BREAKING: Plans to open a dolphinarium in #Vietnam have been rejected! ??? https://t.co/fywYhGWh7p pic.twitter.com/ThlfJZBwwy
— PETA Asia (@PETAAsia) November 20, 2017
This victory shows that attitudes toward businesses that exploit animals for entertainment are slowly changing in Asia as more people are becoming aware of the suffering caused by this cruel industry. Thanks to documentaries such as Blackfish, tourists no longer want to see depressed animals imprisoned in small tanks.
Furthermore, many governments around the world recognize the cruelty behind dolphinariums and have banned keeping dolphins in captivity or are in the process of doing so. We’re so pleased that Vietnam, too, is taking a step in the right direction.
Aquariums teach us more about human greed and thoughtlessness than they do about fish, marine mammals, and the ocean, and they deny animals everything that is natural and important to them. Dolphins are typically trained to perform confusing tricks through food deprivation or isolation, and many become listless and depressed from being forced to live in cramped, chlorinated tanks. Life in captivity is so stressful that many develop ulcers, exhibit neurotic behavior, and die prematurely. There are many ways to inform the public and cultivate respect for animals without imprisoning animals—it’s time to put the focus on teaching visitors how to protect marine life, rather than harming it.
What You Can Do
Read the truth about marine parks, and continue to stay away from them. Share information about the abuse of animals in captivity with your friends and family so that they, too, choose never to support marine theme parks, aquariums, or zoos.
