iGuanaGaL's Animal Pix

Please visit the ACS at: http://www.acsonline.org/education/index.html

Whales and dolphins are still being captured around the world for display in marine parks, hotels and even small traveling circuses. While the large, well-funded marine parks such as Sea World adhere to strict (especially in the United States) regulations, many others around the world do not. The unfortunate animals who are captive in these poorly regulated circumstances are often condemned to a short, miserable life.
The most popular species for captivity are dolphins and killer whales, who have highly complex societies and very tight family ties, not only does captivity place a wide-ranging (often over 100 miles a day) animal into a small, unnatural tank, but also a family and society are broken apart.
For many years, for example, marine parks stated that killer whales lived about the same number of years in captivity as they do in the wild. However, thanks to long-term research, especially off the west coast of North America, scientists believe that killer whales can live to 80+ years in the wild. If a captive orca reaches 30, it is extremely rare. Most die within a few years of their capture.
Capturing cetaceans for below standard facilities, and swim-with programs at hotels, is pure exploitation for profit, with no attempt to tout education as the rationale. Many of these animals (if they survive the capture) are kept in unbelievable circumstances, in tiny tanks, with poor water and inadequate food and veterinary care. Swim-with programs at hotels are all about profit and pleasing humans, with little thought given to the social and health needs of the dolphins.