Acting on the criminal complaint filed by Earth Island Institute (EII) and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Quezon City Prosecutors recommended the filing of charges against the Indofil Sea Wonders Ltd., promoters of a traveling dolphin show last December 2010.

According to the complaint filed by PAWS and EII, operators of the Angels of the Sea Dolphin and Sea Lion show, violated the Animal Welfare Act when it staged its shows during Christmas of 2010.

In their complaint, EII and PAWS alleged that the dolphins used in the shows were subjected to cruelty when the dolphins were deprived of food to obey their trainers and the animals forced to perform five shows a day everyday without any days for rest. Also, the venue for the show was at the Araneta Center in Cubao which is noisy, polluted and always busy with traffic and people.

Furthermore, the dolphins were made to perform in shallow, chlorinated pools which were they also ate and defecated. In January 2012, the animals had to bear the amplified noise and pollution of the New Year Fireworks.

Marine mammal experts Dr. AA Yaptinchay and Dr. Terry Aquino also gave their expert opinion stating that dolphins in captivity, particularly those used in shows experience severe amounts of stress as they are subjected to situations and conditions unnatural to their behavior and evolution as wild animals.

Given this, Quezon City Prosecutors recommended for the appropriate filing of the case against Jose L. Avelino and Ma. Carla Mamburam proprietors of the Indofil Sea Wonders Ltd., for the violation of the Animal Welfare Act (RA 8485).

Arraignment is scheduled on 31 May 2012 at the Hall of Justice in Quezon City.