Help Us Ban Dolphin Captivity in India

Karen Lyons Kalmenson

We need you to become a part of the campaign to enact a total ban on dolphin captivity for the whole nation of India!

The Indian Minister of Environment and Forests, Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan, is currently considering a ban on dolphin captivity in India. She will be making her decision in the coming weeks, and if a ban is enacted, it will save the lives thousands of dolphins from lifetimes of pain and suffering. See our blog for the whole story. 

We need you to write letters, draw pictures, send dolphin origami, or do anything else that is positive and creative, as a way of saying “Thank You” to Minister Natarajan for considering the ban and encouraging her to enact it into India’s legislation.

WHOM TO CONTACT

 A list of embassies can be found here. 

If you cannot physically mail, please email:  mosefgoi@nic.in

 SAMPLE LETTER

To Whom It Concerns:

I am writing you to express my sincerest gratitude that the Indian Minister of Environment and Forests, Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan, is considering a nationwide prohibition on dolphin captivity.

It is known that dolphins suffer in captivity. They are extremely intelligent, self-aware beings with emotions, feelings, and close relationships to one another and their ocean home. Removing dolphins from the sea and putting them into small tanks or sea pens is removing a huge part of whom they are as dolphins, and forcing them to endure a life of misery.

India is a culture of compassion. In a world where animals are treated so poorly, India represents a beacon of hope. By enacting a total ban on captivity, not only will thousands of dolphins over the years be spared a life of torture and misery, but people will also be encouraged to think about whom dolphins truly are – as beings who deserve our respect.

As Mahatma Ghandi famously said, “You can judge a society by the way it treats its animals.” The Minister has the chance to show the world how compassionate and kind India truly is by denying dolphin-exploiting industries to become established within their borders. I hope she makes the right choice.

Yours truly,

in freedom

My eyes reflect the blue of the sea
When they are in freedom, naturally
I can jump up so high
Chase and play
Catch my food
This is the dolphin way
But when in a small space
Entrapped and alone
Or even with others
All I can do is moan
The blue sea reflection
Flickers then dies
Lost in man’s deception
Why bother to try

Karen Lyons Kalmenson