Is it just me, or does anyone else fail to see the attraction of forking over $ 100 to swim with flipper? I have zero desire to spend $400 for my family to swim for 15 minutes with dolphins. I just don't get it.

So what are you saying, that because YOU don't want to do it nobody else should either? Oy vey, indeed.

Not at all, x. Just wondering what people find so fascinating about it, and whether they felt it was worth the $$$. Different strokes for different folks.

To: xxx (the message dated 01/23/2002, 06:55 pm)

Your analogy is one of the best comments I have seen on this post. I would certainly feel better about these swim programs (including the one I participated in, Discovery Cove) if the dolphins had a choice to stay or go.

But dolphins are apparently such intelligent creatures, I wonder if they would make the same choice as another apparently intelligent species--humans. Many of us choose a sort of comfortable captivity--shunning freedom, nature, and simplicity--for certainty and predictability.

Perhaps if given the same choice, Dolphins would distance themselves from us, both literally and figuratively.

What is it about man that makes him want to domesticate everything? Surely everyone can see that a dolphin isn't meant to be kept penned up and let out to have a bunch of strangers grab it several times a day. This isn't a life. As for scientific proof there have been several documentaries and reports on television that have discussed this topic in depth. Believe them or not, it's your choice. And, by the way to compare dogs to dolphins is just plain ridiculous. I, too, enjoy animals and have a dog and two cats. I know that there are some animals you can use as pets and some you can't. That's why I don't have a monkey. It's not domesticated.

We rented a boat in Panama City and the dolphins came right up to our boat! We trolled for a while and they continues to follow us putting on a show for all nine of us. I'm sure they wanted food and are used to getting it. We've also seen dolphins follow the casino boats out of Clearwater Beach. I'm supposeing that people probably do swim with them "in the wild"

Topping for Sharon

I am taking a trip to TB and it always appeared to be interesting to swim with dolphins. So I was looking through all of the messages posted, looking for one corresponding to the subject. I see this one woman looking to swim with dolphins as well, so i clicked on it. First thing I was greeted with was a complaint from someone who felt that swimming with dolphins was unhealthy yet, it is still quite popular. As I went down I noticed a few people that gave out some great information and for that I thank you, but mostly I read complaints much like the first message. Honestly I dont think Brenda cared for all of you animal proctection groups that had to state your opinion. All she wanted was a couple of places that people have been too and that they found satisfactory. So all of you who feel you have to state your opinion on freeing the dolphins and getting rid of those groups that offer a great experience, I feel you can take it back to your animal rights websites and email someone who honestly cares.

Dylan, She asked for opinions. And studies have proven that dolphins in captivity do not live as long as dolphins in the wild. Dolphins in swim programs are exposed to human germs and their immune systems cannot handle them. God made dolphins to be free and wild not to swim with humans for our amusement. BTW, these dolphin swim parks are big business and charge exhorbitant fees for the experience. That is exploitation at it's finest and making a buck off of keeping a beautiful animal caged and unhappy....

Dylan, I don't understand why someone who doesn't like animals would want to swim with dolphins??? These posters are merely pointing out facts that it is unhealthy and unnatural for the dolphins.

To x (the one that posted 2/19/02) and Susan:

I hate to be a nag, but your posts state that *studies have proven* and there are *facts* showing dolphins in captivity do not live as long as dolphins in the wild. Several posters, including me, asked for a citation to these studies so we could educate ourselves. The only cite we got was a news story about dolphin mistreatment in Mexico.

If there are scientific studies out there, I'd love to have a cite so I could read them.

How do you fodorites feel about running with the bulls? (Oh, I'll save that for the Europe forum!) Flying with the eagles? Crawling with the scorpions? Bellyflopping with the jellyfish?

Chuck, it's fairly easy to find info on the mortality of dolphins in captivity. I just did a google search and found these two sights, one is a scientific study and the other is the transcript of a program on PBS. You'll find plenty more if you do a search.

http://whales.magna.com.au/POLICIES/levasseur/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...e/anticap.html

Susan,

Thanks for the citations. I read the study, and it is sobering. I realize the authors have an agenda and are therefore biased (against holding dolphins in captivity), but I found their points to be logical and thought-provoking.

Any interaction between humans and other species is going to have an impact on both species--and it is usually the other species that gets the short end of the stick. But it is impractical to simply eschew any human contact that is potentially harmful to another species. That would certainly put a damper on scientific research, not to mention creating a lot of involuntary vegetarians.

However, I can see a distinction between necessary/justifiable interactions with other species and unnecessary/frivolous interactions. If dolphins are harmed by being held in captivity, and the only justification is my pleasure as a paying customer, that is not a valid justification in my book.

And if you extrapolate, where does that leave the concept of zoos? Unless the zoo experience betters the condition of the animals as compared to their natural habitats, or provides a necessary benefit to humans, justification for zoos seems as problematic as for dolphin-swim programs.

Thanks again for locating this information for me.

Are you all enjoying your 100% all-beef patty while you self-righeously criticize a swim with a mammal?

Perhaps you should not brush a horse.
Perhaps you should not milk a cow.
Perhaps you should not have any contact with any animal, because you might be doing it harm.

Stick to cheap travel. That's your forte.

Dr. Vet,

Your analysis sure blows mine out of the water. I defer to your thorough treatment of the issue and obviously greater wisdom.

Chuck-IMO, zoos offer endangered species protection from poachers and the destruction of their enviroment ie rain forests. A lot of zoos nowdays are involved in conservation, rehabilitation and protection of the species. The admission charges help fund these projects. I think that is totally different than holding an animal in captivity to let obnoxious, insensitive tourists amuse themselves by swimming with them. If you want to see dolphins up close, charter a boat and watch them in their natural habitat, but don't confine them for our hedonistic pursuits...

Hey Chuck, I know, I always feel "zoo guilt" when I take my kids, especially for the polar bear in 80 degree heat in the Los Angeles zoo. Of course, there is a line between research and purely for our enjoyment. It's a tough moral dilemma, but it helps to get informed.

I don't get what is so hard for people to understand if you adore these dolphins(and I am guessing that those of you who are willing to plunk down $80 for a swim are adoring these dolphins)then go out on a boat and swim with them on their terms if they want to come around you. Don't suggest you force this on them. Just can't imagine feeling changed as passed poster mentioned but not changed enough to not support the captivity of a wild creature. Just does not make sense.

You want an exotic experience with nature put on the boots and go for hike. Not as easy as jumping in a pool with a captive creature but the connection is just as strong.

I remember like it was yesterday, when I took my poor late very fat wife to swim with the dolphins. Dolphin took one look at her in flowery one piece and wouldn't come near her. I try to get refund but management would not hear of it. Said if he was a dolphin he would do the same thing.

Moral of story is that dolphins not as stupid as they look.