‘Save Lolita’ Public Service Annoucement from Underdog Entertainment on Vimeo.
A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling against animal rights groups that want orca whale Lolita removed from an oceanarium in Florida.
Lolita has lived at Miami Seaquarium since 1970. Last year, a local judge dismissed the groups’ lawsuit which alleged that the tank holding Lolita violates government animal welfare standards.
An appeals court said last week that although the judges “are sensitive to the plight of Lolita and other animals exhibited across the country”, the orca could remain on display at the Seaquarium and that its rights were being met.
The animal rights groups had argued that agriculture officials were just “rubber-stamping” license renewals and that such a practice undermined the law.
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For more information see The Miami Herald.
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It is the public’s naivety and ignorance that promotes the continual exploitation of animals. I like to think that the majority of people who go to shows where animals are made to “perform”, just do not realise the spectacle they are witnessing has been made possible by very cruel methods.
Whether it is lions and elephants in a circus or whales and dolphins in a sea-aquarium, as long as people pay money to watch this type of event it will continue to happen. The more that people become aware of the animals plight and perpetual suffering, the more likely it is to end.
In my opinion, the best place to inform people of the reality of captive animals is in children’s schools.
Animals form part of our natural reserve. The debate on captivity is new , because we have been watching circus and visiting zoo too often , we have encouraged authorities and they believe it contributes to learning process ..Now let us view this from animal’s point of view , confined without any reason , just because they were in vicinity so they got jailed for life..
Should we depend on National Geographical presentations and let go of zoo , as a way of getting across races…it is a topic that needs to be thought of..
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Thank you for your input Kalabalu.
Zoos are justified on the basis of scientific research, nature conservation, public education and entertainment.
This is not case for the majority of zoos. Their purpose is to make money.
Any human who justifies keeping animals in captivity would do well to spend just one day in captivity. Then they might realise just how precious freedom is.
It is immoral and cruel to imprison animals.
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True..captivity is always “cruel”
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