Discovery Cove in New York Times

[kellymonaghan]

The New York Times ran a generally positive article today (Sunday) about Discovery Cove's dolphin swims, but seemed to feel the need to tart it up with some "controversy."

The writer, a NY Times staffer, teels all about how his kids loved it and how for his daughter the dolphin swim was especially meaningful because allergies pervent her from interacting with most animals.

Still, the writer felt compelled to "give equal time" to those who claim SeaWorld is abusing the dolphins. Maybe it was just the price he had to pay to get the 3diutors to run the story, which otherwise would have looked too much like an advertisement for a wonderful theme park.

Sheesh! It's enough to make you start thinking the right-wing wackos who blather on about environmental wackos might be onto something!

Here's the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/02/travel/DOLPHINS.html?searchpv=nytToday

Don't know how long it will work.

 

[goofy about mickey]

My wife and I are just back from a great visit at Discovery Cove. I still need to write a trip report but I do have to say that the dolphins really seemed to enjoy these interactions with human beings.

My understanding is that Sea World doesn't take any dolphins out the wild unless it is to rehabilitate them from injuries. Then, they return them to the wild if it is at all possible. So, the dolphins that are used in the encounters were either born in captivity or unable to return to their natural habitat. While none of us can read these amazing animals' minds, these interactions with humans and the process where they learn various behavioral routines seem to be good ways to stimulate these dolphins' quite remarkable intellects. Plus, I can't imagine that many companies could afford to operate such a major wildlife rehabilitation program without also owning places like Sea World and Discovery Cove.

 

[kellymonaghan]

Right on!