TripAdvisor Cuts Ties With Attractions That Breed Whales & Dolphins In Captivity
Op-Ed by Arjun Walia
- The Facts: TripAdvisor just announced that they are halting all commercial relationships with facilities that breed or import captive whales, dolphins and porpoises. They will no longer sell tickets or generate any revenue from these types of attractions.
- Reflect On: What gives us the right to hold any animal captive? How is taking the life of an animal any different from taking the life of a human? Have we been brainwashed to accept these types of attractions? Why are things changing now?
Taking animals out of their natural habitat, like the ocean, and subjecting them to a life of depression, trauma and heartache is indescribable. It’s easy to feel ashamed of being a part of a race that has completely lost its connection to nature, understanding, morals, empathy and compassion. That being said, there is good news. The tables are clearly turning and there are many people who are now contributing to bringing these essential qualities back to the human race. Through various forms of activism, it’s quite clear that a large majority of people want change for others we share this planet with. We have no right to treat animals the way we’ve been treating them; it’s disgusting and does not represent what human beings are really about.
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The reason that atrocities like animal captivity exist, is simply for greed and profit. Powerful entities have focused their mind on making money, and have done so at the cost of planet Earth. Coupled with this type of greed comes mass marketing and brainwashing, which is used to drive large portions of the human race into acceptance. We’ve seen the same thing with food. What would a child think if they were shown and taught where their food comes from?
Again, the tables are turning. Things are changing, slowly but surely. For example, Canada recently passed a legislation that completely bans keeping whales, dolphins and porpoises in captivity for entertainment, trade, possession, capture and breeding. The bill (S-203) is also known as the “Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act,” and it was approved by the House of Commons after they voted in favour of the bill, which was first introduced in 2015. That being said, Marineland, a huge whale/dolphin entertainment park, has been exempted from the law that makes it illegal to do so.
The latest news with regards to whales and dolphins in captivity comes from TripAdvisor, who just announced that they are halting all commercial relationships with facilities that breed or import captive whales, dolphins and porpoises. They will no longer sell tickets or generate any revenue from these types of attractions, or any other attraction that continues to contribute to captivity in any way shape or form.
The company recently met with a number of experts, including marine biologists, zoologists and conservationists. They examined scientific evidence and arguments presented from all sides. It also continues TripAdvisor’s commitment to improving the welfare of animals globally, particularly animals in tourism, since they passed their animal welfare policy in 2016.
The fact that this needs to even be discussed is a little discouraging; it’s quite obvious that any animal does not belong in captivity, and that those bred in captivity should still be given a chance to experience freedom. There is no argument.
The extensive evidence presented to us by the experts was compelling. Whales and dolphins do not thrive in limited captive environments, and we hope to see a future where they live as they should—free and in the wild. We believe the current generation of whales and dolphins in captivity should be the last, and we look forward to seeing this position adopted more widely throughout the travel industry. – Dermot Halpin, President, TripAdvisor Experiences and Rentals. (source)
Things are changing in the wild as well, for example, for the first time in 17 years, there will be no whaling in Icelandic waters, at least for this summer. Because of a shrinking international market for whale meat, and an overall shift in consciousness on the planet to a more compassionate and empathetic stance, along with an expansion of a no-fishing coastal zone, both of the nation’s biggest whaling companies are apparently putting a halt to their hunting season. No whales in Iceland will die as a result of human stupidity this summer. We will see what happens next summer with that (2020).
As the Good News Network reports:
IP-Utgerd – a company specializing in harpooning minke whales – said that the expansion of the no-fishing zone would force their ships to travel farther out to sea, making the venture far more costly than usual. The company now says that they will be focusing on collecting sea cucumbers for the summer, according to Icelandic news platform RUV
The 2019 season will be the first time since 2002 that no whales will be harpooned in Iceland’s waters, after the country decided to resume whaling in 2003 in opposition to the International Whaling Commission’s 1986 moratorium.
The Takeaway
This type of thing has been going on for quite some time, and I’m proud to live in a world where massive amounts of efforts are being created and taken by a number of individuals and organizations to spark and create positive change. Like I said, there is a lot of ‘bad,’ a lot of deception and many things about our planet that we need to change. That being said, there is a lot of good too. And as Gandalf the Grey from the Lord of the Rings once said, “Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
Empathy and love is returning to Earth, and it will continue to increase and expand.
Arjun Walia —
This article was sourced from Collective Evolution.
