Second thoughts about DC

[kc7gr]

(snippety)

I may be wrong with my numbers...its been a few years....but dolphins generally live in the wild for about 25-28 years. We had the oldest dolphin in captivity, Capricorn who was actually "Cindy" from JAWS3. He was, I think 35. He is the oldest dolphin in captivity.

(snippety-two)

Ummm... Not quite. I once met a dolphin at the now-defunct Ocean World/Ft. Lauderdale park who was known to be in her mid-40's.

If you check with Marineland in St. Augustine, you will find that they also have more than a few old-timers, including one female who is believed to be in her early 50's.

Wild lifespans, BTW, are thought to be around 18-22 years. That figure goes up by quite a bit in captivity, thanks to good diet, health care, and lack of predators.

Happy travels.

 

[snowbunny]

Not really following you kc7gr...the time the trainer spent reminding the swimmers that the dolphins in the park are only semi-tame really didn't scare anybody. But it was a reminder to respect the animals.

It'll be a very long row to hoe for anyone attempting to demonize dolphins, they just don't look the part to most humans with their smiles and their playfulness. The great white shark hysteria was a lot easier to sow.

And, along with the militarization of everything else in our society, the U.S. Navy uses dolphins to locate underwater mines. So in these times, anyone anti-dolphin, which you seem to be suggesting as an outcome of the DC trainer chat, could probably be branded an enemy of the state and we know what happens then...
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/

 

[kc7gr]

Not really following you kc7gr...the time the trainer spent reminding the swimmers that the dolphins in the park are only semi-tame really didn't scare anybody. But it was a reminder to respect the animals.

(snippety)

Respect, yes. I'd never argue with that. However, Sea World and NMFS (Natl. Marine Fisheries Service) have, in times past, seemingly gone out of their way to demonize wild interaction with no good reason that I can see.

I would be very curious to hear how one of the DC trainers would respond to a question about how to conduct one's self around wild dolphins, if you happen to be in the water at the time and you cannot, for whatever reason, get back to your boat or the beach.

It'll be a very long row to hoe for anyone attempting to demonize dolphins, they just don't look the part to most humans with their smiles and their playfulness. The great white shark hysteria was a lot easier to sow.

Then why do we still, every so often, see reports of dead dolphins washed up on a beach with bullet holes in them? Some certainly don't care for them.

And, along with the militarization of everything else in our society, the U.S. Navy uses dolphins to locate underwater mines. So in these times, anyone anti-dolphin, which you seem to be suggesting as an outcome of the DC trainer chat, could probably be branded an enemy of the state and we know what happens then...

Heh... Believe me, I know. A good friend of mine was a senior trainer for the Navy's dolphin program in San Diego, before he left to pursue a bio degree and living in the Pacific Northwest instead of California.

Granted, it is beginning to sound like more has changed at DC, since I last visited, than I thought. I will, for now, give them the benefit of the doubt until I can get out there again.

Keep the peace(es).