Balloon AnimalReal Animal Issues

Facts about Dolphins
Dolphins are considered one of the smartest sea creatures on Earth. They are highly intelligent but considered our endangered animals. They thrive mostly in shallow seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, eating mostly small fishes and squid. There are about forty species of Dolphins that vary in sizes. The smallest is Maui’s Dolphin which is 4 feet (1.2m) long and weighs around 90 lbs (40 kg). The largest is the Orca or killer whale which grows about 25 feet in length and weighs about 19,000 pounds. These two types of Dolphins are not among our endangered animals on the record.

Endangered species of dolphins
Among the many types of dolphins, the following are noted as among the endangered species: the Pink Dolphin also called Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, Irrawady Dolphin, Baiji (Chinese White Dolphin) which is also known as the Yangtze River dolphin, Hector’s Dolphin, Amazon River Dolphin, Indopacific Humpback Dolphin, Dusky Dolphin, Striped Dolphin, black or Chilean dolphin and the Tucuxi Dolphins. These dolphins have been noted to decrease in population by about 40% over the past 3 years.

Causes of Endangerment
The cause of Dolphin extinction can be attributed mainly through human factor. This includes:

• loss or destruction of habitat. There are so many factor affecting destruction of habitat which include: industrial expansion, pollution;
• pollution by dumping of waste materials to the sea. Dolphins cannot sustain toxic waters;
• over fishing or  illegal hunting. This is ridiculous, dolphins are caught to make them bait for catching crabs. However, some hunted dolphins mainly for consumption;.
• use of irresponsible fishing methods. Dolphins when caught in the net may get injured or eventually drowned. They can only hold their breath few minutes under water.

Man should know that the extinction of any animal in this planet is dangerous. It would affect the already fragile ecosystem that is balanced by all animals and plant life. The seriousness of the extinction level is greater when it threatens the animals at the top of the food chain, like the dolphins.
Knowing the importance of a well balance ecosystem, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has worked tremendously for the protection of wildlife. They work with people to find solutions to save the planet earth against mass destruction. The conservation effort of WWF has been paid off slowly. Animals which are at the point of extinction bounced back once more and increase their numbers little by little. In addition, it also offer new livelihood benefits for the people for sustainable development.

Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.

Our endangered animals | KONICA MINOLTA

Animal Rights
Do animals have rights? Are they entitled to the same treatment as human beings do? In UK, it is believed that there are over 2 million animals which are subjected to pain, suffering, distress, or harm and over 9 million animals were gassed or decapitated annually. It is said that these animals are victims of experiments (vivisection) in British laboratories. How can we counter this barbaric tradition of vivisection when it has been the accepted practice in many areas of Science? Apparently, these animals are deprived of their chance to live a normal animal life that any animal should be.

UDHR
On December 10, 1948, marks the greatest recognition to the very existence of life when the United Nations ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Declaration established the primacy of human life and respect to human dignity. The principle of life speaks that all human beings, however poor or powerless, and regardless of their color, gender or beliefs, have rights that no-one, may ever abuse or take away. It guarantees the right of every individual to live, to be free and protected from torture and exploitation. This UDHR marks the triumph of humanity and the recognition of freedom of every individual.UDAR
Another breakthrough in the recognition of life’s importance is the declaration of the Universal Declaration of Animal Rights which was proclaimed in Paris on October 15, 1978 at the UNESCO headquarters. It has a preamble and contains 14 important sections. The Declaration’s pronouncements are that “all animals have the same rights to existence, no animal shall be ill-treated or subject to cruelty, animals shall command the protection of law, and dead animals shall be treated with respect.” But, before this has been put into action by international agreements, the cause had faded away.UDAW
Now, the concerned groups converged and proposed the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) and hoped that it will be adopted by the United Nations. UDAW came into being seeking inter-governmental support to recognize that animals are sentient, to prevent cruelty to them and reduce their sufferings, and to promote standards on the welfare of animals. This is to find protection and preservation of animals. This is to recognize that like human beings, animals have to live in freedom, but the battle is still starting right now. Animals are still imprisoned in zoos, circuses, laboratories and even in our own farms.