The Earth Island Institute (EII) and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) filed cases against a government official and the promoters of a dolphin and sea lion show staged at the Araneta Center Cubao last Christmas.

Cited in the criminal and administrative complaint before the Ombudsman is Animal Welfare Division Officer-in-Charge Dr. Angel Mateo for granting the permit to the dolphin show which the animal welfare groups say is a form of cruelty.

PAWS and EII are also suing the Indofil Seawonders, Co., Ltd., promoters of the show for the violation of the Animal Welfare Act or RA 8485.

Marine mammal experts Dr. A.A. Yaptinchay from the Marine Mammal Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWWP), in his expert testimony say that dolphins are inherently not suited for captivity and that the condition in traveling shows is unnatural to their behavior and evolution as wild animals.

Dr. Teri Aquino, a nationally recognized expert on marine mammals based in Palawan, agrees that dolphins used in shows undergo severe amounts of stress and this leads to their shorter life-spans compared to their wild counterparts. 

EII and PAWS, together with various groups launched a campaign against the show last Christmas and urged the general public to boycott dolphin shows. 

The groups say that such inhumane forms of entertainment are already banned in countries such as the US, UK, and in developing countries like Brazil and Nicaragua.

Read more on our campaign against dolphin shows, click on the links below:

The Sadness behind the Smile: Why are we against Whale and Dolphin Shows

Say NO to Dolphin Shows:Protest to End the Cruelty of Travelling Dolphin Shows in the Philippines

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