Swimming with Dolphins
Dec 16th, 2003 | 02:25 PM
#21
Joined: Jan 2003
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JohnD, that last remark about how live fish feel being eaten by dolphins is just silly. No one can prevent death, nor should anyone want to, and being eaten by something bigger than oneself is nature's balancing act in action. Dolphins eat fish and are in turn eaten by orcas--that's natural. Being kept in a tank and fed dead stuff and exposed to new germs--profoundly unnatural. Anyone who wants to swim with dolphins under those conditions has rocks in the head.
Dec 16th, 2003 | 03:31 PM
#23
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JohnD, I disagree about people not being able to see dolphins in the wild. If you get to a place that has a dolphin swim, you are close enough to the ocean to see them.
I was walking down the beach the other morning and watched a pod that were about 100 yards from shore. The tourists didn't notice them I'm guessing because they didn't know to look.
You can also view them off piers.
I was walking down the beach the other morning and watched a pod that were about 100 yards from shore. The tourists didn't notice them I'm guessing because they didn't know to look.
You can also view them off piers.
Dec 17th, 2003 | 06:11 AM
#24
Joined: Jan 2003
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JohnD,
There are over 2,000 captive dolphins in the world today, but the number is increasing yearly, because thousands of people go to see them and 'swim with them', all paying their money and making this a billion dollar industry. Does this raise awareness for the dolphins? No.
These parks say they provide valuable education and teach people respect for nature. But, the principle education componet at these parks comes from the 'shows' where the animals perform tricks. This so called education is often inaccurate, incomplete and misleading. Marine mammals cannot behave normally in a situation that deprives them of their natural habitat and social structure. Patrons witness and learn about abnormal behavior. The real message conveyed is not one of respect but rather that it's all right to abuse nature. They may tell you about the size of the animal, in weight and lenght. That's about it. They fail to mention the distances travelled and the depth they dive in the wild. They cannot mention these facts to you because you may wonder, for instance, that if Orcas (yes, Orcas are actually the largest dolphin, NOT whales) dive to depths of several hundred feet, you might wonder what they do in 20 or 30 feet deep pools.
Oceanariums argue they are a unique opportunity for the children to be in contact with Orcas and dolphins. Fact is, the only thing that those companies "teach" our children is the "ability" of humans to abuse wild animals just to obtain economical profit.
The future conservation of the marine mammal environment depends on the way we educate our children. We must teach them to respect nature of which we are a part and this concept cannot be learned from the contact with captive animals. Visiting a place where animals are enslaved and murdered just for amusement is not a positive learning experience for our children. There are more and more opportunities to see dolphins in the wild everyday, as people are finally being educated on the cruel aspect of captive dolphins. You CAN see them in the wild, as they really are, not as freaks we have created for profit.
There are over 2,000 captive dolphins in the world today, but the number is increasing yearly, because thousands of people go to see them and 'swim with them', all paying their money and making this a billion dollar industry. Does this raise awareness for the dolphins? No.
These parks say they provide valuable education and teach people respect for nature. But, the principle education componet at these parks comes from the 'shows' where the animals perform tricks. This so called education is often inaccurate, incomplete and misleading. Marine mammals cannot behave normally in a situation that deprives them of their natural habitat and social structure. Patrons witness and learn about abnormal behavior. The real message conveyed is not one of respect but rather that it's all right to abuse nature. They may tell you about the size of the animal, in weight and lenght. That's about it. They fail to mention the distances travelled and the depth they dive in the wild. They cannot mention these facts to you because you may wonder, for instance, that if Orcas (yes, Orcas are actually the largest dolphin, NOT whales) dive to depths of several hundred feet, you might wonder what they do in 20 or 30 feet deep pools.
Oceanariums argue they are a unique opportunity for the children to be in contact with Orcas and dolphins. Fact is, the only thing that those companies "teach" our children is the "ability" of humans to abuse wild animals just to obtain economical profit.
The future conservation of the marine mammal environment depends on the way we educate our children. We must teach them to respect nature of which we are a part and this concept cannot be learned from the contact with captive animals. Visiting a place where animals are enslaved and murdered just for amusement is not a positive learning experience for our children. There are more and more opportunities to see dolphins in the wild everyday, as people are finally being educated on the cruel aspect of captive dolphins. You CAN see them in the wild, as they really are, not as freaks we have created for profit.
Dec 17th, 2003 | 06:29 AM
#25
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,348
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Reply to Ally,
I respectfully disagree with your position. I do not honestly believe interacting with dolphins in the wild is a better option and have heard this kind of activity might potentially disrupt larger numbers of dolphins in their "normal habitat" over interacting with a limited number in a educational marine park.
Reply to GoTravel, I live along the mid-atlantic east coast, frequent the shore and have never seen a dolphin from the mainland, except when visiting Florida.
I leave with this sad link concerning dolphin statistics:
http://www.ecocities.net/Article389.html
I respectfully disagree with your position. I do not honestly believe interacting with dolphins in the wild is a better option and have heard this kind of activity might potentially disrupt larger numbers of dolphins in their "normal habitat" over interacting with a limited number in a educational marine park.
Reply to GoTravel, I live along the mid-atlantic east coast, frequent the shore and have never seen a dolphin from the mainland, except when visiting Florida.
I leave with this sad link concerning dolphin statistics:
http://www.ecocities.net/Article389.html
Dec 17th, 2003 | 06:57 AM
#27
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i second wuwuwu's question.
i'm also interested in finding out if everyone who's so strongly against swimming with dolphins are also strongly against zoos? same concept, no? and i'm not trying to make a point, i really want to know if people see a difference or not.
fyi, i've never swam with dolphins and not interested in doing so.
i'm also interested in finding out if everyone who's so strongly against swimming with dolphins are also strongly against zoos? same concept, no? and i'm not trying to make a point, i really want to know if people see a difference or not.
fyi, i've never swam with dolphins and not interested in doing so.
Dec 17th, 2003 | 07:15 AM
#28
Joined: May 2003
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I'll bite on that question.
I'm very much against the dolphin programs for all the reasons cited above, and while zoos are (generally) much less harmful to the animals, I still have a hard time enjoying some parts of some zoos due to the captivity issues.
The zoos with free range areas (Wild Animal Park in San Diego for example) don't bother me much.
Zoos with obvious animal crowding bother me.
But in general, zoo operators are more easily scrutinized and the animals are better treated than in the dolphin programs.
There are always exceptions on both sides, of course.
I'm very much against the dolphin programs for all the reasons cited above, and while zoos are (generally) much less harmful to the animals, I still have a hard time enjoying some parts of some zoos due to the captivity issues.
The zoos with free range areas (Wild Animal Park in San Diego for example) don't bother me much.
Zoos with obvious animal crowding bother me.
But in general, zoo operators are more easily scrutinized and the animals are better treated than in the dolphin programs.
There are always exceptions on both sides, of course.
Dec 17th, 2003 | 07:26 AM
#29
Joined: Jan 2003
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RE: Seeing dolphins from shore. It IS possible. I'm looking at a pod in the waves right now from my desk (my office is on a bluff overlooking the beach in Santa Monica, CA). Ocean conditions may drive dolphins closer or farther from shore-- and right now, they're close (less than 100 yards from shore).
Dec 17th, 2003 | 07:26 AM
#30
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thank you tedturner...
i'm torn about the zoo thing. having lived in africa and done the safari thing, it's hard for me to do zoos (i refuse to do circus). i personally would not do zoos or aquariums but i have a young son and i want him to be educated about animals (since we're not in africa anymore, we can't do the "au natural" thing!).
so bottom line, i do feel hypocritical about complaining about one thing but doing something other that i think is pretty similar. we're splitting hairs, aren't we?
i'm torn about the zoo thing. having lived in africa and done the safari thing, it's hard for me to do zoos (i refuse to do circus). i personally would not do zoos or aquariums but i have a young son and i want him to be educated about animals (since we're not in africa anymore, we can't do the "au natural" thing!).
so bottom line, i do feel hypocritical about complaining about one thing but doing something other that i think is pretty similar. we're splitting hairs, aren't we?
Dec 17th, 2003 | 08:07 AM
#31
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,324
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You can see dolphin pods almost every day off the shore in the Outer Banks. They follow the fish up and down the shoreline. I've also seen whales though much less frequently.
There are also a couple of local companies that do dolphin watching trips soundside in a flat bottom boat. That's a great way to see them up close and personal. Did you know that dophins can swin in water less than two feet deep?
There are also a couple of local companies that do dolphin watching trips soundside in a flat bottom boat. That's a great way to see them up close and personal. Did you know that dophins can swin in water less than two feet deep?
Dec 17th, 2003 | 08:18 AM
#32
Joined: Feb 2003
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Reply to obxgrl:
Thanks for the interesting dolphin swimming fact. I have been on about half a dozen whalewatches off Long Island and never seen a whale, or a dolphin, only a sunfish, which are very large unlike the kind you find in lakes. Since we started visiting Stellwagen Bank of Massachusetts, we have seen humpbacks on every outing, but I cannot recall seeing a dolphin. On our last whalewatching trip, I provided video to aid in the documentation/ID of a whale caught up in fishing gear.
Thanks for the interesting dolphin swimming fact. I have been on about half a dozen whalewatches off Long Island and never seen a whale, or a dolphin, only a sunfish, which are very large unlike the kind you find in lakes. Since we started visiting Stellwagen Bank of Massachusetts, we have seen humpbacks on every outing, but I cannot recall seeing a dolphin. On our last whalewatching trip, I provided video to aid in the documentation/ID of a whale caught up in fishing gear.
Dec 17th, 2003 | 10:15 AM
#34
Joined: Mar 2003
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Some of you may know I've done the dolphin swim at Discovery Cove. That was before I knew any better. I definitely would NOT do it again and ashamed to have participated. After we left Orlando we went to Sanibel. Dolphins everywhere! They even swim pretty close to you - atleast they did to us! Very cool and a much better experience for everyone involved.
Earlier this summer I saw them in Folly Beach which is just outside Charleston. Scared the heck out of me cause I was riding the waves and just happened to notice very quickly a fin sticking out of the water. Got out of the water so fast! Then realized it was a dolphin and felt stupid!
Dolphins don't belong in captivity.
As for zoos it really depends on the individual zoo. If they provide a nice sized, as natural as possible environment for the animals as possible and the animals are treated well then I'm ok with it. Not far from Charlotte there is a zoo in someones backyard that is deplorable.
Circus's are, of course, the worst. Just my opinion anyways...
Earlier this summer I saw them in Folly Beach which is just outside Charleston. Scared the heck out of me cause I was riding the waves and just happened to notice very quickly a fin sticking out of the water. Got out of the water so fast! Then realized it was a dolphin and felt stupid!
Dolphins don't belong in captivity.
As for zoos it really depends on the individual zoo. If they provide a nice sized, as natural as possible environment for the animals as possible and the animals are treated well then I'm ok with it. Not far from Charlotte there is a zoo in someones backyard that is deplorable.
Circus's are, of course, the worst. Just my opinion anyways...
Dec 17th, 2003 | 10:31 AM
#35
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JohnD, to clarify things, I wrote if you are close enough to a dolphin swim, you are close enough to get to a beach and see dolphin in the wild.
To my knowledge, dolphin swims tend to be near a warm water ocean (Orlando, the Keys) which dolphin being mammals, prefer swimming in.
I'm not sure how far north dolphins swim but I would bet not as far north as you are this time of year.
I saw six feeding this morning.
To my knowledge, dolphin swims tend to be near a warm water ocean (Orlando, the Keys) which dolphin being mammals, prefer swimming in.
I'm not sure how far north dolphins swim but I would bet not as far north as you are this time of year.
I saw six feeding this morning.
Dec 17th, 2003 | 12:45 PM
#37
Joined: Jul 2003
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Do you think tjs522 ran for cover never to return? I think of it this way-if a bunch of dolphins captured me and held me captive in their environment for their entertainment I probably would die sooner than later. I love to swim and snorkle but I wouldn't want to live there. All my choices & freewill taken taken away ? Pretty cruel.
R5
R5
Dec 18th, 2003 | 08:46 AM
#40
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Well, I had reservations for Dolphin Quest when my friend and I go to Oahu in February, but I had no idea it was so bad for the dolphins. I am a HUFE animal lover and can't believe how misinformed I was. I have cancelled my reservations. Thanks for helping me avoid something I would never want to contribute to.
