Children would like to have a dolphin encounter while we are at Hawk's Cay in the Keys. Could someone compare the Dolphin
Research Center, Theater of the Sea and the program at Hawk's Cay. The Hawk's Cay program is only from a waist deep platform, not a swim. I had read something about there being times when the swims are cancelled even tho reservations have been made. Did I remember that right? Any comparisons and info would be helpful.

anyone?

Yawn. Another dolphin-swim thread that starts out as a serious question and will almost certainly degenerate into a diatribe against captive dolphin encounters. Was fun THE FIRST 100 THREADS!!!

Yawn.

See:
http://www.dolphinproject.org/index.cfm

Last poster was right. If you insist on a dolphin encounter for your kids, you can find lot's of information by doing a search.

Do your kids know how these parks get most of thir dolphins? Do they know that most of them die within two years of captivity from stress-related illnesses...if they manage to survive their violent capture?
I wish you would read some information in the link above, explain to your children and let them decide if they still want to participate.
Thanks

I visited the DRC in Feb and found it to be a fantastic facility. We did a swim which actually consisted of a class and a swim. The trainers at the park are extremely protective of the dolphins and are very informative.

This is a great way to teach your children about endangered species and respect for wildlife. DRC houses and takes care of animals that had been captured or were ill. They do not capture animals for the facility.

You can pick either the platform or the full swim here. I have not heard of reservations being cancelled except possibly for a weather problem. You do need reservations 30+ days in advace.

Friends of ours who came to watch were very disappointed that they didn't take the opportunity to participate in a swim.

http://www.dolphins.org/

Wendy, no disrespect, really, but the DRC still gets their dolphins from capture dolphins. They may not go out and get them themselves, but their web site clearly states they come from 'other facilities' or were 'collected' from others. COLLECTED means
captured. Even those born there are no better off. ALL of them are still trained by starvation methods. They only do those silly tricks because they know they won't be fed dead fish if they dont. None of them will ever be able to capture live fish using their sonar, which is a fundamental aspect of dolphins. Dont let these people fool you, no matter how much they SEEM to care. If they really cared they would release those that could be released.

As for education? What a joke.
As Jacques Cousteau wrote:
"There is about as much educational benefit to be gained in studying dolphins in captivity as there would be studying mankind by only observing prisoners held in solitary confinement."

The dolphins in those parks are not ANYTHING like they are in the wild.

Ever see the Simpson's episode about dolphins?

Forget arguing this topic here - the leftist wackos basically have the same trite plea:

Dolphin Good! Man Bad!

Actually "Dolphin" DRC's dolphins are given "free to go" times, the nets to the sea are dropped whenever there is a storm for their safety- they always return. Of course this is because they don't have the ability to hunt for themselves anymore. So I see DRC as taking care of problems started by other "parks" who captured annimals for the enjoyment of the crowds. I also do not condone this.

Also they are not starved as I actually saw for myself. They are fed whether or not they choose to interact. They also don't have to interact and are left alone if they arn't in the mood- again saw this first hand.

I applaud everyone who takes interests in preserving wildlife and think that many of these posted offerings give us all much to think about. Some places like DRC may actually help to educate and get people thinking and talking. Others like theme parks are more about making a buck.

On a side note- DRC is non profit unlike some others.

Thank you, Wendy. You are obviously a well-informed, intelligent, caring human, unlike some of the other responders here.

Yes, thank you Wendy for the information. Sounds like this 'park' is maybe the only one in existance that actually does care! Very good to hear.