There’s something special about dolphins. Many of us grew up captivated by their playful personalities and charmed by the stories of dolphins rescuing both people and other animals lost at sea. We want an up-close-and-personal experience with this iconic species, and the tourism industry is happy to accommodate.
From dolphin shows and feeding opportunities to swim-with-dolphin experiences and dolphin spotting cruises, there’s no shortage of ways humans can engage with these animals. But should we? Mostly no.
Captivity is torture for dolphins
Dolphins are highly intelligent, social animals who, in the wild, live in pods that can exceed 30 individuals. When captive, however, they will either be kept in solitary confinement or with just a few other individuals. But even when kept with others, the specific animals may change often. Even within a single facility, there may be multiple tanks throughout which the dolphins may end up mixed and matched because of different performance or training schedules. Additionally, animals may be moved from one facility to another for commercial purposes (buying, selling, breeding, etc).
Not only does this unnatural and unstable social condition cause trauma on its own, but it also creates a stressful and ongoing need to reestablish dominance structures. One way this hierarchy is established is through a process called “raking,” in which one dolphin will scrape their teeth against another animal, causing injuries. Although also seen in the wild, once this hierarchy is established in a wild pod, it remains stable for an extended period of time. In captivity, dolphins endure this stress and physical harm on an ongoing basis.
Whether they experience the trauma of being captured or have the misfortune to be born into captivity, dolphins under human control will never again experience a natural social structure and the mental and emotional benefits that come with it. And this problem continues to be compounded through breeding programs.
Babies are separated from their mothers much earlier than they would be in the wild, losing the opportunity to learn crucial life skills from her. These animals then grow up and have offspring of their own, but with no idea how to parent properly, they pass on even fewer life skills.
Not that teaching would be easy anyway. These animals also don’t have access to what they would need in order to learn how to be proper dolphins. They can’t learn where or how to hunt, how to navigate the vast ocean, or the social etiquette of a healthy pod. Instead, they face severe boredom. Their tanks are devoid of anything interesting – no other animals, no coral, no landscape diversity.
In the wild, dolphins have home ranges that exceed 100 sq km and can swim up to 80 miles per day. In captivity, they are confined to a barren tank approximately 200,000 times smaller than their wild range and are forced to swim in circles. They are also forced to spend much more of their time at surface level or just below it, since their tanks are not nearly as deep as they would swim or dive in the wild. This extended time at the surface makes them more susceptible to sunburn and harm from loud noises (particularly from crowds and the music that often accompanies shows).
Dolphins navigate the world around them using echolocation. They emit a sound wave that bounces off whatever is nearby and returns an echo that allows them to “visualize” their environment, creating a mental map. This works great in the wild, but in captivity dolphins are surrounded by walls, causing every sound to bounce around like a ping pong ball. Imagine being constantly assaulted by noise from every direction and it’s no wonder that captive dolphins regularly show signs of psychological distress.
Training dolphins involves cruel methods
Many dolphins will experience food deprivation as part of their training, forcing them to perform unnatural behaviors in order to eat. In addition to being demeaning, the tricks dolphins are forced to do can be harmful and, in some cases, fatal. Having a trainer stand on their snout in order to be launched into the air or hanging onto their fins while they swim can cause injuries. When multiple animals are forced to jump into the air at the same time, they risk collision (this type of incident caused the death of a dolphin at SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove in 2008 and left another ejected from the water and bleeding on the deck in 2012).
Dolphins are also frequently trained to slide themselves onto the deck at the end of a series of tricks, or in order to allow guests to pose for photos with them. This is a highly stressful condition for a dolphin – physically and likely emotionally – because it is akin to being beached. Their bodies are not designed for land and without the buoyancy of water, their organs face additional pressure, which can lead to difficulty breathing. If they are out of the water for an extended period of time, their skin will begin to dry out and can start to crack. They can also sustain abrasions and other injuries from sliding their bodies across the deck surface.
Swimming with dolphins adds additional stresses and dangers
When untrained humans are having direct contact with dolphins, the risk of injury increases. Guests may accidentally kick the animals or injure them by holding on too tightly or in a painful way. They may scratch them with fingernails, jewelry, or life vest zippers. And any lost items in the water can create a choking hazard.
Any close contact between humans and animals also increases the risk of disease transmission, which can have serious consequences. As the number of humans goes up, so does the risk to the dolphins.
Being surrounded by a large number of humans can be stressful to dolphins, as they are sensitive to changes in their environment. This stress can have serious health consequences for the dolphins.
The humans involved are also at risk. Dolphins are top predators and being in close contact with them is dangerous. People have received abrasions, broken bones, and other injuries from dolphin bites and body strikes.
Swimming with dolphins in the wild also has consequences
Some tour companies offer the option to swim with dolphins in the wild. A boat takes guests out into open water, locates a pod of dolphins, and participants get in the water to swim with them. Many believe that this is a higher welfare option because the animals live freely, in natural social groups, and have the choice whether or not to engage with humans.
But that’s not the whole story. Being surrounded by humans still causes stress to the animals, even when it’s happening in open water. In some cases, multiple boatloads of people might be surrounding them or be in the water with the animals. This could make it difficult for the pod to stay together, or for young dolphins to stay with their mothers.
Research has found that human presence near wild dolphins leaves them unsettled and reduces the time they spend socializing, resting, and feeding. Dolphins don’t get to choose when humans show up, and we never know what we might be interrupting. They could be mid-hunt, or trying to rest. A boat showing up could interrupt socialization behaviors that are important for pod cohesion. And if they opt not to engage and move away, they may be leaving prime feeding areas or safe areas for less ideal circumstances.
So what can I do when I want a dolphin experience?
The best way to experience dolphins is via a responsible dolphin watching boat tour. You can find a list of certified operators through World Cetacean Alliance.
If you’re in an area without a certified operator, below are some best practices for ethical dolphin watching. Ask tour operators what their policies are on these issues prior to committing to cruise with them in order to assess the level of care and responsibility they demonstrate. If an operator fails to meet these criteria, refuses to answer your questions, or feels “off” in any way, steer clear.
Stay at least 50 yards away from dolphins
Never chase or harass animals
Never surround dolphins or separate members of the group
Keep noise to a minimum to avoid causing unnecessary stress to the animals
Have a certified naturalist on board to help explain dolphin behavior to guests and answer questions about them
Actively explain to guests how and why the tour operator follows guidelines put in place to protect dolphins
Dolphins are wild animals, just like lions and elephants, and they deserve the same respect and freedom from exploitation. Enjoy seeing them in the wild and engaging in natural behaviors. All other options – from anything in captivity to swimming with dolphins in the wild – cause harm and should be avoided.
Be on the lookout for welfare washing, and understand that tour operators and captive animal facilities have a financial incentive to convince you to participate in whatever they are offering. Don’t fall for it.
For a much more comprehensive report on the dolphin entertainment industry, check out World Animal Protection’s Behind the Smile report.
