Let's Boycott Dolphin Show
In the first such case in Korean history, a court ruled on the case of five illegally captured dolphins that the marine mammals be released back to nature. The Pacific Land, a tourist attraction near Jungmun Beach on the south coast of Jeju Island, was found guilty of buying dolphins from local fishermen who had caught the animals illegally. But the Pacific Land officials are appealing the verdict. The possibility of up to two years' delay before the Supreme Court rules on the case leaves the animals in a watery limbo until then. And the illegal dolphisn show is still going on as of today at Pacific Land!
The captured dolphins are Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, a locally endangerd species. It is estimated that there are about 100 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins left in Korea and the number is decreasing. These rare dolphins are only found on the coast of Jeju Island. If we allow dolphinarium runners to catch them, then in the near future, they will go extinct in Korean waters.
Hotpinkdolphins, a local animal rights group founded in July 2011, has been campaigning for the release of all dolphins being held in captivity. We urge Pacific Land to stop the cruel dolphins show. We demand to rehabilitate and release its captives. Locking the dolphins up in a small tank, taking away their freedom and exploiting them is very unethical.
We cannot imagine what life must be like for captured wild dolphins that spend their lives in such close confinement. Their quality of life must be so poor and wretched. There is nothing about their environment that we can tell that is good for the dolphins in any way. Dolphins are capable of covering distances of up to 150km a day. Certainly it's not something that can be replicated in a captive setting. The stress of living in confinement produces a lot of abnormalities in cetaceans, both physically and psychologically, that is why marine mammals in captivity don't live nearly as long as in the wild.
The Pacific Land must immediately free the dolphins, and should pay the bill for their rehabilitation and release. Until then let's boycott Pacific Land and its animal show. Let's stay away from these cruel and degrading 'circuses' this summer!
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Lets boycott dolphin show.pdf
Lets boycott dolphin show.hwp