Ban on dolphin parks and circuses lifted from animal protection bill

A draft amendment to the animal protection law will no longer include a ban on dolphin parks and animal circuses, after a ruling party deputy introduced a notice demading the removal of the ban A ban on dolphin parks and animal circuses has been removed from a draft of the amendment on the protection of animals law, with a notice issued by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy.

Turkish Parliament’s Environment Commission approved the first five articles of a draft on the law on the protection of animals during a gathering on June 11.

AKP Adıyaman deputy Mehmet Metiner said in his notice that dolphin parks “allow children to love animals and develop an environmentalist point of view.”

Recalling that there are nine dolphin parks in Turkey, Metiner said: “Apart from contributing to our country’s economy, these parks have significant social and cultural roles. They contribute to the rehabilitation of disabled children without charging the families with the social responsibility project.

They also introduce children, who come from orphanages, or other schools, to the love for animals and the children also gain an environmentalist point of view and have the chance to learn about sea creatures from a closer perspective,” said Metiner in his notice demanding the removal of the ban on animal circuses and dolphin parks.  

The article removed from the draft upon Metiner’s notice. The dolphin parks are strongly criticized by animal rights activists for their grave effects on animals.

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