The Kerala coastline is fast turning into killing fields for dolphins. Several instances of fishermen slaughtering the dolphins and selling the meat have come to light in laces like Poonthura near here, Thiruvananthapuram, Beypore in Kozhikode and Cherai near Kochi.

”We have taken up the issue with the authorities but no action has been initiated. The animal is being hunted mainly because anglers are ignorant of the law. Dolphins face an uncertain future in Kerala,” conservation campaigner Prof Kunhikkannan said.

”The authorities remain silent spectators while hundreds of dolphins are being slaughtered and sold. Similar is the plight of the olive ridley turtles which is a delicacy for many here,” he said. On Thursday, a dolphin caught in a net was auctioned despite protests by animal right activists at Poonthura where dolphin slaughtering is a regular affair.

A midsized dolphin weighing around 100kg can fetch as much as Rs10,000. Most of the time, the meat makes its way to the city hotels. “It’s not that dolphins trapped in the nets alone are killed. I have seen them being attacked with harpoons and slaughtered,” claimed wildlife photographer Balan.

Officials admit having received report of dolphin killings taking place in Kerala regularly. They, however, claim that the meat is not consumed in Kerala. It’s a delicacy in some parts of Tamil Nadu and used mostly as baits for sharks elsewhere in the country.

”We received some complaints and have issued warnings against catching dolphins which is protected under the wildlife act. If the dolphins get trapped in nets, the law demands it be immediately released,” chief conservator of forest (wildlife) V S Varghese said.

According to a recent survey, at least 1,000 dolphins are killed every year in Kerala mainly due to fishing nets. The state government, meanwhile, is going ahead with its plans to develop an oceanarium spread over 60 acres at Vypeen near Cherai with private participation at a cost of Rs300cr. The proposed oceanarium, which will be launched by 2010, is expected to be the largest in Southeast Asia.

The oceanarium, the first in India, will have a 250 meters glass tunnel passing through the sea. A dolphinarium and a general aquarium will showcase dolphins and different variety of fish from all over the world. An international marine biological research centre, centre for marine living resources, ecology centre and a convention centre are also be part of the project.

Source: Indian Press