Is it ok?

[jockey]

I was telling a friend that I had booked the dolphin swim at DC for my DH birthday, she explained she was very suprised as she thought that I was an animal lover and how could I participate in anything so cruel! It has got me thinking now!!

Is it cruel? I know that they have a conservation fund etc at seaworld and that some of the animals are rescued!

 

[highlander447]

Cruel I don't think so dolphins are very social creatures they love interacting not only that on your swim the doplhin actually does what he/she wants not what ther trainer wants

 

[vernon]

You'll get people who are opposed to parks like SW + DC. It is very rare that they actually visit such a park to see for themself or even take the time to consider what good is being done in the wider scheme of things.

SW and DC work very hard to put their animals in the best situations possible, they also do major work in rescueing and caring for sick and injured animals hopefully to release in the wild. Not all can be, I believe all the manatees at SW are rescued and their injuries, while no longer painful or life threatening, are too extensive to allow them to live comfortably in the wild. The most important work SW and DC do is in raising awareness of the risks these animals face in the wild. IMHO good parks like SW do far more to make people aware of the beauty of these animals and what is needed to be done than any amount of work done by these so called "animal rights" activists.

Humans will only save what they care about, and they will only care about what they have the chance to see. Parks like SW offer many people the chance to see what's out there and what can and should be saved. For many kids that don't live near the oceans it's the only chance they have to see a dolphin. If they've never seen one it's unlikely they'll be too worried about how their actions, in say Boise Idaho, impact on the marine creatures of the world.

I would agree the best place for dolphins is in the oceans, but unless something is done to protect their environment there will be no where those dolphins can safely live. If a small number of creatures have a safe, comfortable but perhaps less than perfect existance in order to make a difference then, IMHO it's a price worth paying. Your friend displays a touching naievity, in the real world SW and DC can and do make a difference. I don't believe her and her kind have as much effect.

Please, when you've been to the park do come back and tell us if you think the dolphins are cruelly treated. If you witness the care and attention their trainers pay them I think you'll be pleasantly suprised.

 

[ChisJo]

Actually, in SW and DC, it is not cruel. Most of those animals are rescued and are comfortble with human interaction. They are used to it, in fact, and would actually be lonely and depressed without (remember the Free Willy whale that died when released back into the wild because some people thought it would be better for him).
I have heard that it is cruel to go whale watching and dolphin watching in the ocean because it disturbs their natural habitat. They are then more willing to approach people who may be abusive towards them, since they are now used to people being so close all the time.
When I was in Hawaii, a marine biologist told me that there are times in the year that should be avoided to whale watch because it can distract mating and interfere with the birthing of the calfs. We went out and the wild dolphins were within arms reach of the boat - literally showing off and longing for attention. I almost forgot for the moment that they were wild animals. But the biologist told us to never touch them!! This was their home afterall, and we wouldn't want to mess it up. Too bad there aren't more tour people like him out there.
Anyways, just my 2 cents worth.
Jo

 

[jockey]

Thanks for the info guys!! After my visit to SW last year I thought it was great what they do for the rescued animals!! I don't think the dolphin swim is cruel, after al,l if the dolphin does not want to participate it does not have to!

My friend just put doubts in my mind - think I will continue with the swim after all!!

 

[sha_lyn]

there are many places in the world where dolphins chose to have human interaction. There is one beach ( in Australia I believe ) that is very well know for the wild dolphins who come right up to the swimmers. I really think they are just a curious about us, as we are about them.

When we lived in Biloxi we would visit a marine animal rescue and rehab. Their goal was to release the animals that could be released. they had several permanent residents that would not be able to survive in the wild. The dolphins who should be able to be released were in a different area than the ones who could not be. The dolphins in "rehab" were not trained in anyway, but they still wanted human interaction. In fact someone had made a crude hoop out of a garden hose. When we would walk up, one of the dolphins would go find the hoop and bring it to me. their pool was like a lazy river, with catwalks that went over it. The dolphin
would bring me the hoop while I stood on a catwalk, and then swim through it as I held it. the water wasn't deep enough for them to jump.