Several instances of fishermen killing the dolphins and selling the meat have come to visibility in Poonthura near Thiruvananthapuram, Beypore in Kozhikode and Cherai near Kochi. Prof Kunhikkannan, conservation campaigner, told that the issue has been taken up with the authorities but no action has been initiated. He added that the dolphins are being hunted mainly because anglers are ignorant of the law. Dolphins face an uncertain future in Kerala,” says Kunhikkannan.
According the olive ridley turtles are facing the similar problems, slaughtering and sold in the market but the authorities remain silent spectators. He informed that a midsized dolphin weighing around 100kg can fetch as much as Rs10,000. Most of the time, the meat makes its way to the city hotels. V S Varghese, chief conservator of forest (wildlife), told that the government officials admit they received report of dolphin killings and have issued warnings against catching dolphins which is protected under the wildlife act. If the dolphins get trapped in nets, the law demands it be immediately released.
The Kerala government has plan to develop an oceanarium spread over 60 acres at Vypeen near Cherai with private participation at a cost of Rs300cr. It is said that the project will be launched by 2010, is expected to be the largest in Southeast Asia. The project will help endangered species through conservation, research programme, marine living resources and many.
