On October 19, 2011 when a man released 56 wild animals on his property in Ohio, USA for an unknown reason, 49 of them, including large mammals, were sadly shot and killed by local security personnel due to public safety concerns.

Those who perished included 18 endangered Bengal tigers, an African lion, a mountain lion, and several bears, while another 6 were saved but were placed in zoos.

Earlier in October, one of the oldest dolphins in captivity in North America passed away at the age of 51 in a California, USA theme park, after living a life much longer than the average span in either captivity or the wild.

Events as these have raised debates on whether wildlife should be freed or be kept in captivity, as some have said, “for their own good.” Respected international dolphin activist Richard O’Barry, who recently campaigned in Singapore for the freeing of 25 dolphins slated for tank life in a theme park, clarified misconceptions regarding this species’ captivity.

Richard O’Barry (M): All of them captured violently, a lot of them died in the process. And they’re doing this, they’re doing this for us – so they can teach us respect for nature. If they putting them in the swimming pool we will somehow magically make a connection between them and wildlife, and protect wildlife. That’s the theory.

And they’ll tell you that “We’re displaying these dolphins. We have to display them so we can sensitize people. People will see dolphins. You only appreciate what you know, and if we do these dolphins shows, people will protect them.”

Well, there is no connection between a dolphin show and conservation. When you put them into a concrete box, it’s a form of sensory deprivation. Is sensory deprivation stressful? Of course it is.

They're also free ranging, meaning they travel about 50 miles a day, doing lots of different stuff. And living is doing things. Dolphins in captivity, some of them survive that for a very long time.

Others don’t. So it’s really about the quality of life, not the quantity of life. In a world where so much that is wild and free has already been lost to us, we must leave these beautiful mammals free to swim as they will and must. They do us no harm, and wish us none. And we should let them alone.

VOICE: Our appreciation, Mr. O’Barry, for your dedicated work to raise awareness on the truth of life in captivity for the noble wild dolphins, a reality of suffering that all confined wild animals share.
We pray that through our concerted efforts, all co-inhabitants may soon live in freedom and dignity, and we in peaceful coexistence. As part of her frequent advocacy for the welfare of all beings, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke of the need to respect animals in nature during an October 2008 videoconference in Thailand.


http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/10/19/49-escaped-wild-animals-killed-by-Ohio-deputies
/UPI-67621319002583/
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/10/04/Theme-parks-oldest-dolphin-dies-at-age-51/UPI-54351317752512/