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Animal Rights
Introduction
Animal Rights is based on the notion that all, or some of the non-human animals
inherently deserve the possession of their own lives and basic privileges such as freedom from
mistreatment or suffering. Advocates of the animal rights movement propose that animals should
be appropriated the same considerations as those accorded to the interests of human beings.
Richard Ryder invented the concept of speciesism in the 1970s to oppose the existing hypothesis
where fundamental protections and moral values were assigned to members of a specific species
(humans). According to Ryder, this form of considering humans only on a moral aspect at the
expense of other animals equated to prejudice and in some cases was linked to racism (Horta 5).
The theory was further propounded by Peter Singer in Animal Liberation who advanced that
humans exhibit some intrinsically „speciesists‟ traits by practicing beliefs and attitudes which are
unjustifiably disadvantageous to other species that do not possess some individual capacities.
Speciesism manifests itself in ubiquitous applications such as the mass farming of animals for
varied purposes such as food, clothing, entertainment in circuses, research projects, labor
functions and legal systems that permit humans to own animals as property. Non-human animals
that are classified as highly intelligent particularly dolphins are widely held in captivity under

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unfavorable conditions for human entertainment, public shows and research subjects which
should be abolished by all the relevant stakeholders across the globe.
Dolphins in Captivity
The rampant use of dolphins in water parks and other amusement spots stems from their
human-friendly nature and ease of training for recreational purposes. Whereas some of the theme
parks and facilities acquire the dolphins legally from registered agencies, the processes can prove
lengthy with extremely complicated bureaucratic procedures which have given rise to illegal
trade of wild-captured dolphins. The overall operation involved in seizing them from their
natural habitat is implicitly violent and detrimental to their general population. The exercise
entails trailing of a group of dolphins by use of speedboats to exhaustion and subsequent
separation of the batch into fewer groups which are then corralled with purse seine nets. The
roaring engine noise and rapid confinement frequently lead to panic and disorientation whereby
the dolphins experience injuries and death in an effort to entangle themselves from the
constraints. Additionally, they are subjected to a further distressing environment during logistics
in shallow pens installed in the speedboats and trucks or across boundaries on long-haul flights.
According to data from the Wild Animal Protection (2017), the mortality rate of captured
dolphins is estimated to increase six-fold as compared to those that are free roaming in seas.
Dolphins are social and communal creatures that thrive in the wild by forming complex
societies with each member of the pod playing an integral role in ensuring the well-being and
health of the group. Their innate need for interactions enable families to co-exist together
throughout their lifetimes and elder members of the pod induct knowledge and crucial skills to
the young. However, their enslavement in tanks for shows presents a vastly different setting from
their native domain of similar groupings which sparks frustration and aggression. In the oceans,

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dolphins have been observed to wander up to 50 miles in a day and delve into hundreds of feet
beneath the ocean surface. On the contrary, the exhibitions immensely inhibit their movement
since the American regulations provide for a standard enclosure of average dimensions 24 feet in
length and a depth of 6 feet (World Animal Protection). The captive facilities with a restricted
straight motion often lead to a crippling psychological affliction. Moreover, the ponds are prone
to massive heating during the summer which renders discomfort to the dolphins in an attempt to
submerge into deeper and cooler waters due to their shallow depths. The warm water coupled
with scorching rays of the sun have a negative effect on their sensitive skin causing sores and
blisters. The cement pens are regularly treated with chlorine to disinfect them from bacteria to
levels that are safe for humans. The sudden exposure to this chemical which is absent in their
natural environment may have a catastrophic effect on the animals‟ eyes and skin with extreme
reported cases of blindness.
The life span in dolphinariums is estimated to be shorter than in the wild with studies
indicating that the life expectancy for dolphins in captivity falls at roughly half the length in the
ocean. This can be attributed to the shock of being separated from social entities, skin illnesses
and mental exhaustion derived from constant performance in shows leading to suicide or self-
harm. Trained dolphins are deprived of the right to end their acts or interactions with humans
upon the accomplishments of their spectacle tasks but rather on food incentives. This mode of
operation termed as „operant conditioning‟ dictates that the satisfaction of hunger in animals is
dependent on the execution of an extraordinary trick where some trainers deliberately induce
hunger with the objective of achieving an effective training. Although the dolphins are ultimately
provided with a complete portion of food, the persistent use of a reward system as an incentive to
stage better performances is viewed as cruel treatment of animals. Alternatively, the training

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programs are tailored to reflect human responses and emotions which might be unnatural
behaviors of the animals in the wild, for instance, dolphins are conditioned to continuously move
the pectoral flippers as a gesture of waving to the crowd, and vocalizing to insinuate a verbal
communication with spectators.
Animals in Research
The use of animals in research and experimentation has gained unprecedented popularity
in the modern world due to the emergence of more complex and complicated diseases among
humans. The extensive research programs have however received mixed reactions from the
masses with the opposing factions contending on the ethics and moral principles involved in the
practice. The scientific community and medical researchers strongly support animal testing by
citing the numerous breakthroughs in medicine and other fields that have been achieved in recent
years. The foundation for human research has relentlessly aimed to annihilate the universal
misconception on animal testing by arguing that the global quality of life has significantly
improved following new developments that have been enabled by past research programs.
Animal rights extremists nevertheless have insistently questioned the moral standing behind the
use of animals for what they term as „selfish gain‟. Example, Dolphins are cognitive and large-
brained creatures which has led to their large-scale anatomical study as well as other marine
animals under the class of cetaceans such whales and porpoise in the last few decades.
Regardless of the perspective from which an individual views the controversial topic, a
unanimous consensus notes that the extent of animal suffering and discomfort should be
minimized for any research to be morally justifiable.

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Organizations that protect Animal Rights and their functions
The US enacted the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972 to regulate the widespread
capture of dolphins that had led to the mass death of roughly half a million dolphins annually.
Towards the end of the 1980s, the government added an additional clause to the existing Article
named the „Dolphin Safe‟ label after much pressure from the US consumers. The law was
adopted in 1990 by major companies dealing with tuna in the US which offered a guarantee to
consumers that the nets used to harvest tuna had not interfered with the dolphin population.
Furthermore, the Act prohibited the importation of tuna into the US markets from countries that
failed to adhere to the dolphin-safe practices. Despite the protective measures installed, the
adjacent countries of Venezuela, Mexico and Colombia failed to implement the regulations
which still posed a major threat to dolphins. According to Humane International Society (2013),
between 2000 and 4000 dolphins are captured in the oceanic eastern tropical Pacific by tuna
fisheries and an additional 3 million are either injured, traumatized or pushed away from the
coastlines.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an international
nongovernmental organization founded in 1980 which is committed to the abolition of abusive
treatment of animals in the society and businesses as well as promoting the consideration of
animal interests in general policies or practices. During the commencement stages, the
organization targeted government agencies and private research companies through litigation and
exposure against conducting tests in laboratories using animals. The institution gradually shifted
its focus to pharmaceuticals and cosmetic companies that relied on animals for invasive and
extensive testing of products and appealed for better alternatives. The campaign oversaw the
signing of a pledge of assurance by many corporations in the cosmetic industry against the use of

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animals in experimentations. Other initiatives launched by PETA include the complete
obliteration of the use of animals by the auto industry in conducting crash tests and protests
directed at the textile/fashion industry that utilize animal fur in modern apparels such as Calvin,
Klein and Georgio Armani among others. In relation to the entertainment industry, for instance,
in Dolphin-Shows, the agency enforced some rigorous standards detailing the extent to which
animals could be used in circuses.
Animal Rights Movement also referred to as Animal Liberation Movement is a social
foundation whose major mandate is to eliminate the legal and moral distinction that exists
between non-human animals and humans. The movement aims to bring an end to the mass
exploitation of animals in the clothing industry, in research purposes, entertainment or as a
source of food. The fundamental module of operation involves sensitizing the public on animal
rights through campaigns and digital media advertisements.
Conclusion
Animal Rights dwells on the idea that non-human animals deserve to possess their own
individual lives and basic privileges such as freedom from mistreatment or cruelty. Dolphins are
particularly a major favorite in circuses and water parks due to their highly intelligent nature and
social skills. However, the dolphins are subjected to crude treatment in captivity which limits
their freedom of movement and social interactions with other pods. Various establishments exist
which are committed to the protection of animal rights such as the People for Ethical Treatment
of Animals and Animal Rights Movement among others. Despite their immense efforts in
abolishing the cruelty netted upon animals, the mission requires active participation of all the
stakeholders involved in the sector as well as an integration of the general public in upholding
Animal Rights.

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Works Cited
Humane International Society. “The Dolphin-Safe Label.” Humane International Society,
http://www.hsi.org/about/how_we_work/policy/treaties/dolphin_safe_label.html?ea.track
ing.id=bl18-
googlegrants&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQiA37HhBRC8AR
IsAPWoO0w4e7acHxAjVDQIxds1tuxe6yXydcUhUxhdxTpbEw-
1sva8gperAnAaAjT9EALw_wcB. Accessed 02 Jan. 2019.
Horta, Oscar. “What is Speciesism?” Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Ethics, vol. 23,
no. 3, 2010, pp. 243-266. doi: 10.1007/s10806-009-9205-2
World Animal Protection. “Marine Animals in Captivity.” World Animal Protection, 2017,
https://www.worldanimalprotection.us/our-work/animals-wild/marine-animals-
captivity/dolphin-faq. Accessed 02 Jan. 2019.