Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures with a perfect social organization; hence they deserve a special status amongst ranks of the cetaceans. Such were the comments of Julia Pronina, activist of “Greenpeace” on India's decision to “identify dolphins as individuals that do not belong to the human race”
Dolphins call each other by name, but to recognize them as individuals, even with reservations, might not be that correct. This view-point is shared by Vladimir Krever, program coordinator for the conservation of biological variety of animals at the WWF. The Government of India has bestowed the status of dolphins as “individuals that do not belong to the human race”. Thus India has become the first country to recognize the unique intelligence and self-understanding of dolphins at the state level. This is a huge step in the preservation and enhancement of population of these species of marine mammals, considers Julia Pronina. “I think this is a very big step in the development of mankind. The human race has reached that level of evolution when it can identify the existence of high intelligence levels and reasoning in other living creatures. Dolphins, for the first time have been officially recognized as individuals; nonetheless, with a status that does not reach the level of human beings. This is very true and a very optimistic point of view. I fully support the Government of India in this regard. I think that other countries, particularly the developed countries, should follow suit”. Vladimir Krever agrees with this opinion of the “Greenpeace” activist only partly: “No one disputes the fact that dolphins are highly organized mammals, but to actually call them humans by naming them individuals is an exaggeration of judgment. Although Indians, it ought to be noted, are not the only ones who have expressed this viewpoint. Such initiatives have been brought about for the last three to four years, for example, with regards to the Black Sea dolphins - by a number of environmental activists in Ukraine. This call to humanize dolphins is too bold a step and it hardly has firm grounds for existence”. At the same time, both experts have unequivocally supported the decision of the Ministry of Environment and Forests of India. It forbids dolphins to be kept in captivity and their exploitation in the field of entertainment across the country. Vladimir Krever considers it appropriate to introduce this practice in respect to all animal species: “I would have agreed with Indians, without hesitation, that the capturing of animals from the wild for the purpose of training and entertainment is not the best way to assert harmony between man and nature. Any pulling out of animals from the freedom of wildlife with the purpose of keeping them in captivity for commercial interests is inhumane”. Julia Pronina sees eye to eye with Vladimir Krever on this position: “This is an absolutely right decision to ban dolphin shows, because at the dolphinariums, these highly sensitive creatures are kept in nasty conditions. And to add to it, in the long run, they are bullied; all performances of dolphins are part of a very cruel tradition. It all looks like fun, but actually training of dolphins in captivity is done by using various cruel practices. India has taken the right decision – dolphins, whatever may be the case, should not be used in mass entertainment events”. India has become an inspiration of hope to the international movement for protection of cetaceans from exploitation. But will this initiative have a continuation? Dolphinariums, where often, several times a day, there are mass performances, have long become first-class business enterprises. Will other countries follow the example of India? Source: Voice Of Russia
