dolphins in captivity

getting to know dolphins

Wild dolphins don't wear funny hats, nor do they jump through hoops, dance on their tails, applaud themselves with their pectoral fins, or make squeaky sounds like Flipper the TV star. The majority of dolphins held in captivity are Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

The captive environment

Dolphins have evolved over millions of years, adapting perfectly to life in the ocean. They are intelligent, social and self-aware, exhibiting evidence of a highly developed emotional sense. Here are just a few of the issues with captivity...

The rescue myth

The truth is that bottlenose dolphins are not targeted by the locals, that other local dolphin populations continue to be hunted for food and teeth, and that these animals would not have been captured if they were not intended for export.

Dolphin assisted therapy

Dolphin-Assisted-Therapy (DAT) has become a lucrative business over the last years and presents a serious threat to the welfare of dolphins, in that it creates further violent captures of dolphins worldwide.

Captive breeding

"If the dolphinariums only used dolphins that were born in captivity, then there wouldn't be a problem," is this true? It is imperative to consider the ethics and educational value of breeding dolphins in captivity.