Dolphin shows are not permitted in India due to moral reasons.

Live dolphin shows are officially a thing of the past in India. The country now expressly forbids the endangered species from being placed in captivity and used for entertainment or exhibition purposes.

The lawmakers reason that the animals have intelligence and sensitivity levels that are high enough to regard them as “non-human persons.” Thus, they should be afforded specific rights and be protected from morally objectionable treatment.

Luckily, shutting down existing entertainment facilities featuring dolphins will not be a problem, as India doesn’t have any.

There was an unfortunate attempt to open one in the 90s, but tragedy ensued, and the four imported dolphins died inside of a few months.

The new rule will stop any future attempts and prevent further losses.

Beyond the moral issues, the transport and keeping of dolphins has cause for practical concerns. According to official findings, “Mortality rates of captured bottlenose dolphins shoot up six-fold immediately after capture and do not drop down to ‘normal’ levels for up to 35 to 40 days.”