The Dolphin Project has relentlessly campaigned for a decade against Indonesia’s traveling dolphin circus. Finally, after much hard work and dedication, the world’s cruelest dolphin show has been shut down.
In a massive victory for animal welfare today, The Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Indonesia will not be renewing the permits of Wersut Seguni Indonesia, the company responsible for the suffering and exploitation of so many captive dolphins. Today, the company will have to shut their doors to one of the cruelest shows on earth.
In a statement on The Dolphin Project’s website, “The dolphins recruited for the traveling circuses were transported from village to village, from city to city, for a period of four weeks at each location. Dolphin Project’s Indonesian team documented their travels and obtained footage of dolphins spending up to three days in coffin-like boxes, trucked through Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Java.”
“The dolphins were forced to perform in small, highly-chlorinated pools, the added chemicals so strong they burn the patrons’ eyes, let alone the dolphins swimming in them. Five times each day the dolphins performed for the amusement of the public, being fed only small pieces of fish during showtime to keep them hungry and willing to entertain. From jumping through hoops, to “dancing” to high-volume music, these routines are repeated over and over,” continued Dolphin Project.
In 2013, Zulkifli Hasan, Indonesia’s forestry minister issued a ban on dolphin circuses and ordered regional Nature Conservation Centers (BKSDA) to stop issuing permits for circus operators.
Indonesia also passed (Law No. 5/1990), as well as government regulation (No. 7/1999), that declare protections for all subspecies of the Dolphin family. Yet, in parts of Indonesia, this critical legislation is not being enforced.
