LuluLovesDisney said:
FWIW, I swan with dolphins in Mexico, and they didn't do the dorsal fin thing and in fact told us that it hurts the dolphin and that it can actually damage their fin to have people pulling on it when they ride - that riding on a dolphin should only be attempted by those who are trained to balance with strong core muscles so they do not pull on the dolphin's fin.
My experience swimming with dolphins was an awesome one - they were very affectionate and puppylike, nuzzling my arms and legs and even rolling over to have their bellies petted.
I'd like to hear exactly what interaction the guests have with the dolphins in Discovery Cove before I can think about exactly how this happened. I'm glad the boy is doing well and hopefully these stories continue to be few and far between.
I was an Educator at SeaWorld, and from my understanding the dorsal fin ride is safe for both dolphin and human as long as proper positioning is used. The Discovery Cove trainers take the time to instruct the group on the proper technique, then prior to each individual's ride, they position the rider carefully before letting the ride commence. However, just like a lot of topics, experts disagree. I'm not sure how big your group was in Mexico, or how long the tour, perhaps there wasn't time/staffing to do extensive instruction? Or perhaps that facility simply errs on the side of caution? I don't know, I don't claim to be an expert by any means.
The boy who was bitten was at Dolphin Cove, which is located inside SeaWorld park, in the Key West area. That is a touch pool, with a waist-high railing. Guests are permitted to lean over the railing to feed and pet the dolphins. Most of my time as an Educator working that pool was spent policing the railing, looking for guests behaving in a manner dangerous to themselves or the dolphins. The rules of interaction are repeated over loudspeaker every 3 minutes during feeding and every 5-7 minutes during non-feed times. Guests are to drop or toss the fish into the dolphin's mouth, pet them only from behind the blowhole back, keep their feet flat on the ground, remove any dangling jewelry, etc. Unfortunately most people pay little attention to the rules. I used to see 10 or more guests per day dangling their toddlers over the pool or allowing them to sit on the wall with their feet hanging into the water. There are 2 educators plus several trainers monitoring the pool at all times, and as soon as a dangerous behavior is noticed, it is stopped.
However, it is also repeated constantly that the animals are semi-wild, with razor sharp teeth. As another poster mentioned, there is an inherent risk whenever a guest puts his/her hands into the water. The risk is minimized to the best of SeaWorld's ability, but it cannot be fully erased.
That being said, bites tend to be extremely minor and completely accidental. As you know, dolphins are exceptionally affectionate with humans and enjoy the interaction. The pool is extremely large, and the dolphins can easily leave the touching area whenever they choose. Any interactions are at the dolphins' discretion.
Sounds to me like the boy just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time (perhaps in between the dolphin and a fish being offered by another guest?), and got tagged. No damage done. First aid is always offered in these cases, although there really is no point as long as the skin isn't broken. A quick wash at the on-site hand washing facilities will take care of it.
I hope this doesn't make anyone afraid of the dolphin interactions. I've been nipped myself a couple of times, and it just isn't a big deal. Dolphins are not monsters, they would never attack a person, and in my experience, as soon as they realize they have accidentally hit person, they pull back immediately.
