Activists unite in Durban for Empty the Tanks movement
"We will not stop fighting, until all are free," - Prathn Singh.
MEMBERS of the animal rights organisation, Ban Animal Trading, gathered for the Empty the Tanks protest on Saturday morning.
The protest, which took place at the intersection of Albert Terrace, Anson Road and King Shaka Avenue, was held to call for mammals living in captivity to be set free.
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The protesters also called on residents to stop supporting dolphin shows.
Director of Ban Animal Trading South Africa, Prathna Singh said, “Empty the tanks is a global movement taking place around the world for the same purpose and we have been doing it for years, slowly educating more and more people to not support dolphin shows.”
She encouraged residents to watch The Black Fish documentary, to obtain an idea on the emotional and physical trauma that dolphins go through when they live in captivity.
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“People should understand that dolphins are highly intelligent, highly social and emotional beings. Living in captivity is equivalent to human being in a bath tub all their lives. It is extremely traumatic,” said Singh.
Zane Kramm, who supported the protest, said, “I think dolphins are being taken away from their families and they are being forced to do stuff. It feels bad to put them in tanks.”
For more information on the movement, visit the Ban Animal Trading South Africa Facebook page.