can not agree that there is any uncertainty as to whether "interactive programs" are a good thing. they most definetly are a bad thing. life span is shortened significantly. family units are destroyed. young dolphins die when their mothers are taken. the fact that humans are entertained is of no significance what so ever.

Doug...."The Cove" may be about killing dolphins for their meat in Japan, but there is indeed a very ugly side to big $$ dolphin swim programs.

In the end, people will make their own decisions....but if we can educate a few people here(who might have been otherwise unaware) that there is indeed a dark side to swimming with dolphins, that's a good thing.

I do not think Diane, myself or any others who oppose such programs should be "short shrifted".....you mistook what she meant, you should re-read her post.

The OP's question was asked and answered, and this thread has now gone in a different direction. I'm stepping out of this discussion, which I probably should never have re-entered in the first place after my initial comments.

I should have clarified my initial response. In "The Cove", the unblemished captured females are sold to amusement parks and other tourist arractions

Interactive programs with animals of any kind in any kind of "pen" sucks....period! I was not going to comment but i couldn't help myself. The animals that are being captured, removed from their natural environment and penned sucks too! To each his own...for me it is a very sad thing to see.......and yes, even the zoo bums me out.

My kids were able to swim with JoJo in the Turks and Caicos...highlight of their lives..in the beautiful free waters off of Grace Bay.....for me that is what it is all about.