It’s a well-known fact that dolphins are one of the world’s most intelligent animals. From their sociability, familiarity and friendly behavior they portray with humans, dolphins have been one of those animals that have long been loved by humans. Even until now, researchers continuously discover new information about dolphins and their unique skills and sophistication that have only been seen with humans before!
Similar to humans, dolphins are also capable of brutally mistreating each other and yet, despite our shared humanity, we have seen so many inhumane acts that humans have done to dolphins throughout the years. Perfect examples of these inhumane acts are the destruction of their habitats because of pollution and illegal poaching of these poor, intelligent animals.
Another cruel act of practice that humans have been subjecting dolphins to for years is keeping them locked up for the sake of entertainment in aquatic zoos and amusement parks that up until this day, offer cruel and up-close experiences with exotic animals.
Just recently, a bottlenose dolphin named Honey suffered to her death after being locked up in a small water tank at the Inubosaki Marin Park Aquarium close to Tokyo, Japan. After the devastating earthquake and tsunami the country suffered in 2011, the park was under a lot of financial trouble.
While the park was eventually sold to another owner last year, they still didn’t get enough visitors to support their expenses which led to its eventual closure. Despite its closure, Honey, along with 46 other penguins and hundreds of different species of fish and reptiles were left abandoned in the park!
LADBible previously reported that the park had only assigned one employee to feed all these remaining animals who were left to their miserable fates in their cages and aquariums.
When the animal welfare advocates got hold of this terrible information, they spread word of the cruel and heartbreaking scene that was happening in the Marine Park Aquarium to try to ask for help. The Dolphin Project got wind of Honey’s station and sprang into action to try and rescue her. Unfortunately, it was too late to save Honey at this point from all the mistreatment that he had already experienced.
The Dolphin Project website shared a statement on their website stating:
“In late February of this year, we reached out to our Japanese colleagues once again in attempts to purchase Honey in order that she could be retired in peace and dignity.
“These conversations ended in early March when it became apparent Honey was unlikely to survive.
“Later that month on 29 March, Honey died in her tank.”
The group also shared a video of Honey during her final and miserable days showing how she spent it without any interaction to another creature – leading her to spend her last few days as if in solitary confinement for a normally active, energetic and vibrant creature.
Honey now earns the heartbreaking title of the “world’s loneliest dolphin.”
The only thing that advocates hope for nowadays is that her death wont be in vain, and her unfortunate role as the “face of dolphin captivity” will be used to improve the treatment and situation of other dolphins and sea creatures that are still confined in small and torturous conditions just so that people can exploit their freedom for commercial entertainment.
Director of PETA, Elisa Allen said in a statement that:
“While her death in a concrete cell marks the end of her wretched existence, PETA hopes it also marks the beginning of a new era for animals held prisoner at marine abusement parks. We all know enough about other living, feeling beings now that we can no longer justify depriving intelligent, self-aware animals of a meaningful life for human amusement.”
“We must work to move captive marine animals to seaside sanctuaries – where they can enjoy some semblance of the natural life they’ve been denied for so long.”
May you rest in peace, Honey.
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