Free the Travelling Circus Dolphins of Indonesia

Indonesia is home to the world’s last remaining travelling dolphin circuses. Over 72 dolphins are kept in the most appalling of conditions to perform for audiences across the island of Java.

The animals are frequently hauled out of their plastic pools and loaded into trucks along with other animals as the circuses move from town to town. Many of the dolphins die due to stress and lack of proper care during transportation.

Three companies still run travelling dolphin shows on the main island of Java: Wersut Seguni Indonesia (WSI), Taman Safari Indonesia and Ancol.

JAAN – Jakarta Animal Aid Network has been campaigning against WSI for almost 2 years. They  travel with a number of protected animals and show owners have been claiming legal status by using a loop-hole in Ministry regulations. After extensive investigation JAAN has been able to prove WSI’s false claim over this status. The investigation also revealed that all of the dolphins have been caught illegally from the wild. Other animals kept in the circus are baby sun-bears, small clawed otters, yellow crested cockatoos and an orang-utan.

The circus owners have repeatedly threatened the activists but to no avail. JAAN brought the evidence to the relevant authorities and was able to sign an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indonesian government permitting the rescue, rehabilitation and relocation of the dolphins and the rescue of the other animals. JAAN set up a seapen for the rehabilitation of the captive dolphins. Where possible the dolphins will be set free or at minimum live out their lives in stress free large semi-wild enclosures.

On the day of the planned raid operation government officials cancelled at the last moment and while more meetings have taken place since it is clear that the influential circus owners have pressured the very officials that are supposed to protect the animals from harm. Seven months after the agreement with the Indonesian government was signed, the animals are still used in the shows of WSI and no action has been taken by the authorities.

The Indonesian government is very sensitive to international pressure so JAAN is calling on people from around the world to add their voice to the campaign and help release these wild caught animals.

Please watch the videos, sign the petitions & send the letter (below) 

World’s last remaining travelling dolphin circuses in Indonesia from The Black Fish on Vimeo.

What you can do:-

• Join the facebook campaign page
• Write to the Indonesian ambassador of your country and Indonesian authority officials (see example letter and addresses below)
• Sign the following petitions:-
• http://www.change.org/petitions/indonesian-authority-officials-autoridades-de-indonesia-close-down-indonesian-dolphin-traveling-circus#
• http://3dayz.com/dolphin-travelshow-indonesia
• http://forcechange.com/15056/free-the-traveling-circus-dolphins-in-indonesia/#gf_1
• http://www.change.org/petitions/dolphins-don-t-belong-in-traveling-circus#share
• http://www.change.org/petitions/traveling-dolphin-show#share

Please write to the following to express your concern & disgrace about these travelling circuses.

Your local Indonesian Ambassador

European embassies: Belgium | France | Germany | United Kingdom

The following government officials in Indonesia:

Sekretaris Jenderal, Forestry Department
sekjen@dephut.go.id
boenm@dephut.go.id

Inspector General Forestry Department
irjen@dephut.go.id

Governor of Jakarta
bowof@jakarta.go.id

Director General Forestry Department
dirjenphka@dephut.go.id

Minister of Forestry Department
menhut@dephut.com

Please send a copy of all correspondence to jakartaanimalaid@gmail.com

(Use the example letter below or modify as you see fit)

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you out of concern for the well-being of protected animals used in travelling circuses in Indonesia. Especially the situation of the travelling dolphin circus Wersut Seguni Indonesia (WSI) deserves your attention.

WSI uses baby sunbears (Helarctos malayanus), yellow crested cockatoos (cacatua galerita), small clawed otters (Aonyx cinerea) and even dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in its shows. An orangutan, endangered and protected by Indonesian law, is also kept illegally on the premises of WSI in the Kendal province of central Java, in darkness and isolation.

The illegal trade in these animals is threatening the wild dolphin populations in Indonesian waters due to the upcoming industry of ‘swimming with dolphins’ programs and travel shows. For the travelling circuses the dolphins are transported by trucks to various cities throughout Indonesia. The stress of the circus performances and the frequent transportation has already resulted in a large number of dolphin deaths.

Research conducted (2009-2010-2011) by the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) proved that all animals kept at WSI were illegally caught from the wild, without any license. The capturing of dolphins from the wild obviously has a big negative impact on the wild populations. Since data on dolphin populations (numbers and species) are still lacking in Indonesia, we take this matter very seriously.

JAAN brought the evidence to the relevant authorities and was able to sign an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indonesian government permitting the rescue, rehabilitation and relocation of the dolphins and the rescue of the other animals.

JAAN has set up sea pens and a rehabilitation program for the 27 bottle-nose and stenella dolphins kept at WSI and this will become the first permanent facility in the world to rehabilitate and release dolphins back into the wild. Arrangements were also made for the animals to be confiscated and transported to the facility. The program ensures that where possible the dolphins will be set free or at minimum live out their lives in stress free large semi-wild enclosures.

Last month government officials cancelled the raid operation at the last moment without proper explanation and it has become clear that the influential circus owners have successfully persuaded the very officials that are supposed to protect the animals from harm. Seven months after the agreement with the Indonesian government was signed, the animals are still used in the shows of WSI and no action has been taken by the authorities.

Indonesia is the last country where dolphins are used in travelling shows and this is something which is condemned around the world. We would like to ask you to put this issue towards the relevant Indonesian authorities and ensure that animals kept illegally by WSI are re-located to an appropriate rehabilitation facility. We also request that you will put this case to the Indonesian government to ensure that Indonesian law and international regulations are upheld and that Indonesia can proudly show a leadership role in the protection of these endangered species.

Thank you for your attention and I look forward hearing from you regarding any possible action you are able to take on this issue.

Yours sincerely,

(Your name & country)

Link:-http://www.theblackfish.org/news/indonesia-dolphin-circuses.html

Link:–http://jakartaanimalaid.com/blog/programs/aid-for-dolphin/

To Presidente, Director: Rehabilitate and Release Kshamenk back to the Wild.

Please sign petition below:-

http://www.change.org/petitions/presidente-director-rehabilitate-and-release-kshamenk-back-to-the-wild#

 

PARTICIPATE IN JAPAN DOLPHINS DAY 2012!

 

July 18, 2012 by Ric O’Barry, Earth Island Institute

Ric O’Barry

Campaign Director

Save Japan Dolphins

Dear Friends and fellow Dolphin Lovers:

I am asking you for your help. On or around Sept. 1, please head to your local Japanese embassy or consulate to voice your concern about the dolphin slaughters!

This time of year always makes my heart heavy. September 1 marks the official beginning of the dolphin drive hunting season in Taiji, Japan, as I helped to show the world in the Oscar-winning movie The Cove. Every year, thousands of dolphins are brutally killed; some are then sold into a lifetime of slavery in captive facilities around the globe, and the rest are used for their flesh – which is highly contaminated with mercury and other toxins, rendering in dangerous for human consumption.

We absolutely must keep the international spotlight on Taiji in order to stop these senseless murders once and for all. This is why I am asking you to lend your voice to the cause and join or organize a Japan Dolphins Day event in your area.

The good news is that we already have many events in countries around the world, put together by dedicated people like you. We have created a map which allows you to find one in your area:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=218328447128658910358.0004c363570a91076da24&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=54.59667,-5.930203&spn=91.259621,292.160024&t=m&source=embed

If you don’t see an event in your area, I STRONGLY encourage you to organize your own! Please contact laurab@earthisland.orgfor more information on how to get started.

This year, September 1 falls on a Saturday. Organizers have the option of holding their event on August 31, but only for the purpose of attempting contact with the embassy staff. The most important thing to keep in mind is that these events should be focused around MEDIA – try to get as many newspapers, journalists, and television stations there as possible – because these are the people who will make sure our message gets heard around the world.

Please keep in mind that we are not speaking out against the Japanese people – we are opposing the handful of corrupt government officials who allow and even encourage the hunts to continue. I do not condone any racial slurs or anti-Japanese sentiments of any kind. We are also speaking out against any captive facility that keeps dolphins and small whales. These places, such as aquariums, marine parks and dolphinariums, are abusing animals purely for their profit. This should come to an end. Remember – don’t buy a ticket to a dolphin show!

Also, it is important to note that most Japanese do not eat whale or dolphin meat, and the market for such meat is drying up — so much so that dolphin hunters in Taiji last season killed fewer dolphins than ever.  Our efforts to convince the Japanese people to stop eating whale and dolphin meat are working!  Keep up the pressure by emphasizing the human rights that are being violated by the Japan government’s silence on mercury contamination of dolphin and whale meat!

Throughout last year’s hunting season, our Cove Monitors reported regularly on the hunts, to the consternation of the dolphin hunters and the Japanese government alike. See our blog postsand be sure to regularly check our Facebook page for this year’s updates.

I hope you will join me and participate in a Japan Dolphins Day event near you. Together, we can get this stopped!

Contact laurab@earthisland.org to organize an event near you.

News Link:-http://savejapandolphins.org/blog/post/participate-in-japan-dolphins-day-2012

Please sign the petition:- The Cove: Help Save Japan’s Dolphins:-

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/724/210/624/