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The capture of wild dolphins is cruel and inhumane.
Dolphins have evolved over millions of years and have adapted perfectly to life in the ocean. They are intelligent, social, and self-aware, exhibiting evidence of a highly developed emotional sense.
Can you imagine the panic these dolphins experience as they are torn from the ocean, their family, forever separated from their watery world never again to experience what many of us now take for granted, freedom.
The word "capture" clashes with the superficial, theatrical surroundings of the dolphin spectacle. Therefore, when referring to the capture of dolphins, the captivity industry uses a deceptive change of language.
At The Dolphin Research Center in Florida, the dolphins have not been captured, they have been "collected."
At Sea World Inc., USA, the dolphins have been "acquired."
The truth is the capture of dolphins is a violent procedure. Pods of bottlenose dolphins are chased until completely exhausted, surrounded with a net and dragged onto the boat where the capture team searches through the terrified group for the specimen they want. The lucky ones are thrown overboard. Those selected are taken ashore and will never see their ocean world and their pod again.
In some incidents, bottlenose dolphins have been separated from their calves, regardless of the fact that a bottlenose dolphin normally protects and remains with her calf for up to five years. During this time they nurture a relationship characterized by profound affection. The violent and permanent separation is a traumatic experience for both mother and calf.
Anyone patronizing Prospect Reef Resort and swimming with the dolphins there will be giving a reason for this cruel capture. We as a human race call ourselves intelligent and yet we condone this kind of cruelty and close our eyes to it because it's easier not to hear about it.
The next time you think of cruelty, or bad planning, think of Prospect Reef Resort and what they are doing to these dolphins.
"Source: Helene O'Barry, Dolphin Project."
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