x-files

Dolphins in captivity

The london zoo made its first attempt in 1862 to keep a dolphin in captivity....

It died the day after its arrival!

In the 1960's and by the end of the decade, there were about 6 dolphinaria displayed, in Great Britain, performing dolphins before the public.

Two years later, the number had more than doubled!

For the United States, the figures are unknown, but quite high and still growing rapidly....

Other parts of the world, including Japan, Europe and Australia, all have their own crop of dolphinaria with the little legislative control and generally even less understanding.

Most of these watery circuses have no other function than to titillate tired crowds of humans and in so doing make a profit.

The welfare of the animals is of interest only in so far as it affects the economics of the operation.

To restrict dolphins to the confines of a small, quite inadequate pool for our own pleasure reveals the paucity of man's morality.....

A few years ago, the average life span of dolphins in captivity was between 5 and 6 months!

Nowadays with more improved and advanced technology and better veterinary attention, the figure has raised for over 2 years. On any criteria this is an appalling record.

As with any captive animal, the greatest period of danger is in the first few months of captivity.

Experience has shown that the period required for an animal to adapt to captivity may be several months.

Some animals are temperamentally unsuited and never adapt. These should be released.

Although the commonest species kept in captivity are the bottlenosed dolphin and the common dolphin, over 15 species have been exhibited over the years. These include Risso's dolphin, the Finless porpoise, the False killerwhale, the Pacific white-sided dolphin, the Amazon dolphin, the Ganges susu, various species of Stenella and last but by no means least, the Killer Whale. (first time in 1964).

In addition to the normal jumping and retrieving tricks which closely resemble those of the bottlenosed dolphin, it has become customary for trainers to ride on the back of these beautiful but dreaded creatures, a daring if rather sick exhibition!

How they capture a dolphin.....

Deep water cetaceans are caught with what is in reality a larger edition of the fishing net used by small boats. As the animals rides the bow of a ship, the operator slips the net over it, this requires some skill. When the animal surfaces on attendant jumps into the water and helps to get it into a sling so that it can be swing aboard.

Coastal shallow water species, notably the bottlenosed dolphin, can be driven close to shore and encircled with a net. They are then simply lifted aboard small boats within the netted region.

Unfortunately, however much care is exercised by the catchers to protect animals, many are wounded and do not receive treatment until they reach their destination.

Then the animal is transported to its pool. They feed the dolphins with dead fish.

When you don't like to visit the dolphinaria in you neighborhood, and you like traditions, there's always the possibility to visit he Faeroe islands..... Every year they have the same tradition over and over.......
see for yourself......this is what you are going to see....:

If you really care for all dolphins, help them!

Look for other sites, here are a few links of organizations who will guide you....

whaleclub

P.O.D.

W.D.C.S.

earthtrust

human-dolphin org.