LIFESTYLE
WE CAN SAVE THE Dolphins We Can Save the Dolphins!
Join the plastic pollution coalition
It is disheartening to know that one of the
Ocean waste is one of the biggest threats to the
most beautiful creatures residing in our
lives of dolphins and plastic easily tops the list
oceans is under threat. Scientific inquests
of ocean contaminants. Their non-degradable
have shown that these are dolphins are
nature means they never leave the
among the most intelligent creatures in the
environment, no matter how hard we try. This
world. Their social behavior is awesome to
is why the bulk of plastic waste gets into our PHOTOS BY Jeremy Bishop
behold, and they have the ability to
oceans. The plastics leach dangerous
communicate with humans more than any
natural environment. No matter the amount
toxins that pose an immediate threat to the
other animals. When you add the fact that
of love and care showered on a dolphin at an
lives of dolphins. They could also have an effect
they help police the ocean, saving humans
aquarium, it cannot be as good as letting it
on their reproductive and immune system. This
from predatory sharks, you would agree that
roam freely in the oceans. Dolphinaria all over
poses a threat to their long-term survival.
saving dolphins is a cause we should all lend
the world pay heavily to get dolphins from
Furthermore, plastic pollution damage marine
a voice to.Thankfully, saving dolphins is not
natives. The dolphins are subjected to harsh
habitats. The coral reefs and animals or plants
a Herculean task. They are only under threat
conditions in drive fisheries and many of
below the food chain and killed and it becomes
because of our mindless destruction of the
them are killed in the process. The next time
harder for those higher up to survive. If we are
environment. Thankfully, it’s not too late to
you see a smiling dolphin in dolphinaria, you
able to significantly reduce our dependence on
make better decisions and encourage others
should know that about a dozen others have
plastic, we would have done a lot towards
to do so as well. Here are some things you
been killed to get it there.Worse still,
saving the dolphins.
can do to help save the dolphins and other
capturing dolphins for dolphinaria motivate
beautiful creatures in the ocean.
Encourage others and donate
villagers to kill them for meat. The live
There are numerous organizations that are
Stop eating dolphin meat
dolphins represent only a small fraction of
constantly advocating for better ocean
Dolphin hunting is one of the activities that
the dolphins that were removed from their
conservation policies. These organizations also
make them an endangered species. Some
habitat. The good work done by promoters of
educate people on the need to make better
villages in Japan and Peru are hot zones for
dolphin conservation for many years can be
decisions in order to protect the life of dolphins.
the mindless slaughtering of dolphins.
undone by agents for dolphinaria
You can donate your widow’s mite towards
Some of these places even celebrate the
within a matter of weeks. Their persistence
these organizations to lend your support for the
killing as some sort of festival.
and mouthwatering offers make it difficult for
fight to save dolphins. While you are at it, you
Environmental activist groups have moved to
the simple villagers to keep to their pledge of
should also educate others about the need to
sensitize the people and put pressure on the
not killing dolphins. A classic example is found
be deliberate about saving dolphins. You may
government to make better policies that would
in the Japanese village of Iki where the
just be creating a ripple effect. Ocean waste is
stop these killings. However, as an
villagers went back to their old ways after
one of the biggest threats to the lives of dol-
individual, you can choose not to be complicit
more than a decade cessation in dolphin
phins and plastic easily tops the list of ocean
if you say no to dolphin meat. If there are no
capture.
contaminants. Their non-degradable nature
buyers for this meat, the roughly 18,000
Boycott tuna
means they never leave the environment, no
dolphins killed in one village alone would be a
You may be surprised to learn that not eating
matter how hard we try. This is why the bulk of
waste. The buyers rely on the demand in the in-
dolphins is not enough if you wish to save
plastic waste gets into our oceans. The plastics
ternational market. If you are one of those that
dolphins. According to the Whale and Dolphin
leach dangerous toxins that pose an immedi-
crave dolphin meat, it is high time you replaced
Conservation, an estimated 300,000 dolphins,
ate threat to the lives of dolphins. They could
it with something more sustainable. You could
porpoises, and whales die every year as a
also have an effect on their reproductive and
also do well by informing someone else while
bycatch in fisheries across the globe. This
immune system. This poses a threat to their
you are at it.
fatality rate is clearly unacceptable.
long-term survival. Furthermore, plastic pollu-
A dolphin captive show is not a good way to
Dolphin-safe or dolphin-friendly (EU) labels
tion damage marine habitats. The coral reefs
spend the weekend
have been introduced to reduce the number
and animals or plants below the food chain and
Fans of swim-with shows do just as much
of accidental dolphin deaths during tuna fish-
killed and it becomes harder for those higher
damage as those that eat dolphins, but they
ing. However, this label is as controversial as
up to survive. If we are able to significantly re-
may not know. First, there is nothing as
they come. Boycotting tuna is one of the best
duce our dependence on plastic, we would have
pristine as letting animals thrive in their
things you can do to save the dolphins.
done a lot towards saving the dolphins. Trend Privé Magazine 113
