Must be entertaining for visitors but somehow I feel sorry for such majestic creatures when they are reduced to become performers by humans for money. Won’t people come just to watch them rather than make them do tricks?

I gotta agree with Manish on this one. I get the point of the story and it is very cute, but should they not be free in the oceans rather than entertaining us. It is supposed to be majestically splashing in the Arctic waters and it is now in a big tank in Japan!! Not cool... But still a cute pic.

Oh, I missed to mention the positive part of the story, my mistake... the picture is indeed cute and also the whales are smart to have learned to blow the bubbles. I am sure kids would love to watch them do that.

Hey I do agree that animals whether in zoo or aquarium are in captivity.....which is against the nature. But then if appropriate measures are taken to keep them comfortable and feel-at-home then its not as tortuous as we may feel. How else can we see and learn about ’em?

You are right Deepa. Even I am not against keeping animals in captivity provided, as you said, they are taken proper care of and are given almost natural kind of habitat to live... but my issue is with training them to perform... As it is in captivity they loose their natural instincts and then to make them do tricks... thats something I feel bad about.

I don’t really know about this ”taking proper care of them”. While I can understand keeping endangered species in captivity to make sure they do not go extinct, I would prefer these animals to be in the wild. I’m sure we can learn more from them when they are in their natural envi. and I’m sure TV networks like NGC and Discovery would document them well. No matter what you give them, Freedom is taken away and that cannot ever be compensated.

While I’m sure these Belugas are taken good care of, just a visit to my local zoo makes me feel very sad for captivated animals... Horrible conditions.

Being an animal lover my self, I too agree with your thoughts. But then I also feel that if kept in correct conditions, its isn’t as harmful as leaving them out in open where poachers can have them all for themselves.

Seeing them on TV or reading about them in books isn’t comparable to real life encounter.

As for the zoo in Hyderabad, I remember visiting it as a kid. It definitely was much better kept then out Mumbai Zoo. :(

I do agree that seeing them in person is a lot more captivating and I can only imagine the way Mumbai zoo looks like if it is far worse than the one in Hyderabad... Maybe someone should try bringing it to the notice of the authorities.

Lol.....try bringing it to authority’s notice! They are the same guys who cannot or dont want to implement better measures. Btw, I did read about Mumbai zoo getting a complete face-lift withing a couple of years. But am sure some stay order will delay it for decades.

I am quite a regular to Mumbai zoo and yes, its in real bad conditions. The concept of zoo is changing the world over but back here they are still discussing the changes and as deepa has said, it will be years before anything will happen...
Animals are kept in small cages and the cages stink. The crocodile tank is so filthy that it looks like gutter.
But we also go to this lion and tiger safari at National Park and its awesome. Tigers and Lions are kept in large enclosure (its a forest) and they take visitors in safari bus. This is much better way to keep them, almost in natural habitat and for visitors sightings are guaranteed ... a win - win for all.

I knew this answer was coming... its the same India everywhere :) But its a bit better here. We actually protested for a day for cleaner and more hygienic water in the zoo for animals and the guys did that almost in a couple of days... It may be small, but was something.

Hey thats great you guys got it done. I will try talking to the zoo in charge in my next visit. Lets see what he has to say.

btw, my wife had visited the Hyd zoo almost 15 yrs ago and had been telling me its a much better place then Mumbai zoo... but looks like its also got neglected :(

But I feel the safari idea works out much better. Controlled area so animals are free to roam in their space and at the same time are safe and visitors can see them for real...
just don’t want to see them to perform :)

Good to know that u guys protested for something and the zoo authorities actually worked on it. But tell me Sameer, do you believe that they will keep up to it? May be they implemented your demands for cleaner water to keep controversies at bay.
Anyway, I think, change, however small or temporary, gives some hope for better times.

Thats the problem, everything is temporary - always a knee-jerk reaction.
I do hope Sameer that was not the case and your protest did help do something permanent. If possible do try and check it out, would be interesting to see if zoo people took it seriously.

Goodluck to Manish for his Try to talk to Mumbai zoo authorities.

Thanks Deepa, and should I count on you if we have to organize a protest? :)

Definitely.....:) even my teen daugther who is an ardent animal lover will love to be a part of this welfare protest.

Thanks Deepa for the full family support :) ... Its a good idea to involve kids in this kind of protest or even into social activity of their liking. Gives them tremendous exposure and widens their view of World... that is if they get time off their studies :(