Wild Dolphins and
Dolphins in Captivity

As Swim With The Dolphin (SWTD) programs and Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) continue to gain popularity, we're seeing more and more dolphins being held in captivity than ever before. While some scientists claim that dolphin research is progressing in great strides, critics believe that holding wild dolphins captive is cruel and should be stopped.

When comparing wild dolphins to captive dolphins, there are great differences in their behavior. Due to the cost involved with studying wild dolphins, however, little scientific data is available. It is known that wild dolphins can travel over 40 miles a day and are constantly on the move, foraging for food, playing and fighting within their pods. Dolphins in the wild spend approximately 80% of their day deep below the surface exploring the depths of the ocean. The wild dolphin's need for movement is one of the reasons that critics are calling for the release of dolphins in captivity. While the dolphins that we see in the aquariums and swim programs worldwide seem happy to us, scientists say their boredom eventually leads to their premature deaths. Dolphins in captivity, for example, are usually just the opposite of wild dolphins and spend only 20% of their days under the surface. Contrary to the belief that dolphins are comfortable on land (the beaching of themselves we see in the dolphin shows) dolphins in the wild would never purposefully beach themselves. Scientists believe that this is extremely harmful and in actuality, a dolphin resting on land on its' belly for an extended period of time will slowly crush it's internal organs.

The capture of wild dolphins is a procedure that has disastrous and lasting effects on the dolphins. Statistics show that of the dolphins that actually survive the capturing process 53% will die within the first three months. At least 50% of the dolphins in captivity will die every seven years. Chlorine poisoning, disease and stress related illnesses are the three number one reasons for the death of dolphins in captivity. Studies also show that dolphins, unlike other animals do not become acclimated to the transport procedures used to move them from the wild to captivity or even to new locations in later years. During the capture process, the dolphins are herded towards the shore, separating those still swimming with their mothers from the herd. They are then trussed in a sling and carried from the water to a transport vehicle. Research proves this is extremely traumatic, the US government researchers found that mortality rates in the bottlenose dolphin rise 6 fold immediately after capture.

Until recently, captive dolphins rarely lived more than a few years. With better care and advances in veterinary medicine, however, they seem to be living at least as long as the dolphins in the wild. Scientists have not yet figured out why this is, as most other wild animals in capitivity, protected from their natural predators will always outlive their counterparts in their natural environments.

While there are many species of dolphins, the bottlenose is the only one that has been bred in captivity with any success. Other species have simply been returned to the wild due to their inability to reproduce in captivity. While human continue to hold a fascination for these somewhat mythical creatures, many animal activist groups are calling for a halt to their captivity. While the dolphin may provide entertainment, and potentially valuable research opportunities in captivity, it is definitely not an environment in which the thrive.