A major step forward in the ethical treatment of large sea life was just taken by Sir Richard Branson.
On behalf of all the Branson entities, he has announced that his companies will no longer participate in tours with or presentations of captive whales and dolphins, otherwise known as cetaceans.
Those large animals are today found to be thinking creatures with emotions and thoughts.
Already, several large sea life theme parks have announced that they will no longer showcase contests between cetaceans and human beings.
But various animal leagues have already announced that this policy does not go far enough.
“Whales and dolphins cannot thrive in concrete boxes,” said a recent spokesperson for one of these leagues.
Yet despite the new policies, numerous theme parks in America and elsewhere continue to offer “with” experiences, namely the chance to swim “with” a captive dolphin.
That harmful activity will also be ended under the new Branson policy.
It should be noted that numerous coastal locations offer the chance to view the soundings of whales without encasing them in a concrete box.
Numerous New Yorkers, for instance, board ferry boats that bring them to areas heavily occupied by whales, where they can view the whales sounding and moving.
But as for captive cetaceans, Branson’s new policy is an important step forward that we should all encourage other travel companies to adopt.
