South Korea Theme Park Forced to Return Dolphins Back to the Sea – April 12, 2013

Dolphins' journey to freedom highlights ethical issues of keeping cetaceans in captivity

In a landmark ruling, the South Korean supreme court has ordered Pacific Land, a dolphinarium on the south coast of Jeju Island, to free four of its dolphins.

 A dolphin being transfered out of the Pacific Land facility. The theme park originally bought 11
illegally. By the time the courts finally ordered their release, seven had died. Of the four remaining,
two are in critical condition.

Between 2009 and 2010, Pacific Land Illegally purchased 11 dolphins from fishermen, without the approval of the Korean Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry. The ministry is supposed to approve marine mammal capture "for educational,… more

by: Laura Bridgeman

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Whale Roadkill: Not a Thing of the Past Quite Yet – January 15, 2013

Changes to shipping lanes near SF Bay may help, but proposals for the Santa Barbara Channel Islands fall short of the mark

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) recently announced vessel lane changes for the approach to San Francisco Bay, the Santa Barbara Channel, and the Los Angeles and Long Beach port complex, will involve extending some shipping lanes, narrowing the width of others, and shifting the southbound lane in the Santa Barbara Channel and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary one nautical mile north. These routes pass through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOOA) Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, and Channel Islands national marine sanctuaries where endangered blue, humpback, and fin whales feed and congregate.

Photo courtesy Great Whale ConservancyThe proposed route adjustments are… more

by: Laura Bridgeman

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No Dolphinariums in India, Nation’s Environment Ministry Advises its States – January 10, 2013

Preemptive move follows proposals for captive dolphin facilities in several Indian states

While dolphin captivity is largely being phased out in countries across the globe, spurred by a growing understanding of who dolphins are — in some places the battle is still raging between the captivity industry and informed individuals. Thanks to organizations like the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO), however, reason is winning out — in India at least.

Photo by Flickr user GitgatCurrently there is no dolphin captivity anywhere within the South Asian nation’s vast borders.

Currently there is no dolphin captivity anywhere within the… more

by: Laura Bridgeman

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Evidence of Beluga Intelligence Raises Questions about Captivity – December 7, 2012

A growing number scientific and anecdotal reports suggest that there is much more to a cetacean’s brain than the captivity industry might care to admit

 NOC, the ‘talking’ beluga whale who has become posthumously famous after the release of a report revealing his speech, had the same legal standing as the computer or handheld device that you are using to read this article. After his capture from Churchill, Manitoba, in Canada, he became a piece of property, owned first by the Navy and later the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF). He was used in various acoustic experiments for years and was denied the right to control any aspect of his life: the right to bodily integrity; the right to privacy of any sort; and any other right which you and I (thankfully) possess.

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by: Laura Bridgeman

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South Korean Captive Dolphins have a Shot at Freedom – May 10, 2012

In First-of-its-Kind Ruling, Judge Orders Release of Five Captive Dolphins

South Korea could be well on it’s way to becoming a dolphin-friendly nation. Like many other countries, it has captive facilities where dolphins are made to perform degrading tricks and live in unbearably small tanks. But a recent ruling on the case of five illegally captured bottlenose dolphins is making waves in the country’s animal rights, as well as animal industry, circles.

Photo courtesy of Ryu Woo JongTwo of the captive dolphins currently being held at an underground pool in Pacific Land, a theme
park on the south coast of Jeiu Island in South Korea.

Pacific Land, a theme park on the south coast of… more

by: Laura Bridgeman

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