A dolphinarium is an
aquarium for
dolphins. The dolphins are usually kept in a large pool,
though occasionally they may be kept in pens in the open
sea, either for research or for public performances. Some
dolphinariums consist of one pool where dolphins perform for
the public, others have expanded into much larger parks,
keeping other marine animals and having other attractions.
These larger parks are often not considered to be
dolphinariums themselves, but
marine mammal parks or
theme parks that include a dolphinarium. A dolphinarium can
also be part of a zoo.
Though
cetaceans have been held in captivity in both North America
and Europe since the 1860's, the first being a pair of
Beluga Whales in the New York museum, dolphins were first
kept for paid entertainment in the Marine Studios
dolphinarium founded in 1938 in St. Augustine, Florida. It
was here that it was discovered that dolphins could be
trained to perform tricks. Recognizing the success of Marine
Studios, more dolphinariums keeping dolphins for
entertainment followed.[1] In the 1960's, keeping dolphins
in captivity for entertainment purposes became increased in
popularity after the 1963 Flipper movie and subsequent
Flipper television series. In 1966, the first dolphin was
exported to Europe. In these early days, dolphinariums could
grow quickly due to a lack of legislation and lack of
concern for animal welfare. New legislation, most notably
the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act in the United States,
combined with a more critical view on animal welfare forced
many dolphinariums around the world to close. As an example,
during the early 1970's there were at least 36 dolphinariums
and travelling dolphin shows in the United Kingdom, none of
which still exist today, the last dolphinarium in the UK
having closed its doors in 1993.[2]
Design
The
Brookfield Zoo dolphinarium in Chicago
A common dolphinarium design for public performances
consists of stands for the public around a semi-circular
pool, sometimes with glass walls which allow underwater
viewing, and a platform in the middle from which the
trainers direct and present the show.
The water in the pools has to be constantly filtered to
keep it clean for the spectators and the dolphins, and the
temperature and composition of the water has to be
controlled to match the conditions dolphins experience in
the wild. To give an indication of pool sizes, the
European Association for Aquatic Mammals recommends that
a pool for five dolphins should have a
surface area of 275 m² (2960 ft²) plus an additional
75 m² (810 ft²) for every additional animal, have a depth of
3.5 m (11.5 ft) for at least the minimum surface area and
have a water volume of at least 1000 m³ (35300 ft³) with an
additional 200 m³ (7060 ft³) for every additional animal. If
two of these three conditions are met and the third is not
more than 10% below standard, the EAAM considers the pool
size to be acceptable.[3]
Species
Various species of dolphins are kept in captivity and
also several other small whale species such as
Harbour Porpoises and Belugas, though in those cases the
word dolphinarium may not be fitting as these are not true
dolphins. Bottlenose Dolphins are the most common species of
dolphin kept in dolphinariums: they are relatively easy to
train, have a long lifespan in captivity and a friendly
appearance. Hundreds if not thousands of Bottlenose Dolphins
live in captivity across the world, though exact numbers are
hard to give. Orcas are well known for their performances in
shows, but the number of Orcas kept in captivity is very
small especially when compared to the number of bottlenose
dolphins, with only 46 captive Orcas being known as of
2006.[4] Of all Orcas kept in captivity, the majority are
located in one of the SeaWorld parks in the United States.
Some other species kept in captivity are Spotted Dolphins,
False Killer Whales and Common Dolphins, but all in much
lower numbers than the Bottlenose Dolphin. Two unusual and
very rare hybrid dolphins known as Wolphins are kept at the
Sea Life Park in Hawaii, which are a cross between a Bottlenose Dolphin
and a False Killer Whale.
Trade and capture
Dolphin being forced in to a sling by swimmers
in Futo, Japan.
In the early days, most Bottlenose Dolphins were wild
caught off the coast of Florida where they are common, but
the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act put an end to this. In
most Western countries, few new dolphins are wild caught and
breeding programmes have been set up to provide the
dolphinariums with new animals. To achieve a sufficient
birth rate and to prevent inbreeding, artificial
insemination (AI) is occasionally used. The use of AI also
allows dolphinariums to increase the genetic diversity of their population without having to
bring in any dolphins from other locations, which is a
complex operation and very stressful for the animal.
Live dolphins are still traded however. A live Bottlenose
Dolphin is estimated to cost between a few thousand and
several tens of thousands of US dollars, depending on age,
condition and prior training. The trade of dolphins is
regulated by CITES. Cuba is a major exporter of dolphins,
this being organised by the Acuario Nacional de Cuba.[5] In
recent years, the Solomon Islands have also allowed the
capture and export of wild dolphins for the entertainment
industry[6], however a 2005 law has now banned the export of
dolphins.[7] Some, mainly Japanese, dolphinariums obtain
their dolphins from local drive hunts.
Animal welfare
Orcas performing in Shamu stadium at SeaWorld in
Orlando, Florida
Though animal welfare has improved significantly over the
last few decades, many animal rights and welfare groups such
as the
WSPA still consider keeping dolphins at dolphinariums a form
of animal abuse. The main arguments are that dolphins do
not have enough freedom of movement in pools regardless of
pool size and do not get enough stimulation. Dolphins often
show repetitive behavior in captivity and sometimes become
aggressive towards other animals or people, having resulted
in a number of fatalities amongst animals and also people,
with at least one trainer having been killed. In some cases,
the behaviour of dolphins in captivity also results in their
own death.[8]
The lifespan of dolphins in captivity is an other subject
of debate and research has shown that Orcas indeed have a
much lower survival rate in captivity, however, for
Bottlenose Dolphins no significant difference between
survival rates can be found.[9]
In response to criticism, dolphinariums often stress that
every effort is being made to ensure the well being of the
animals.[10]
Many dolphinariums are also involved in research projects,
help out in case of beachings, provide aid to sick or
injured wild animals and have educational programmes.
Dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT), also known as dolphin human
therapy (DHT), which is offered at many dolphinariums world
wide, is considered to benefit people, especially children,
with various psychological and neurological problems such as
autism, depression, Down syndrome and various development problems.[11]
Iridescent-publishing.com - The rose-tinted
menagery, a history of keeping animals for
entertainment, chapters four to six.
^
"Following P.T. Barnum's ill-fated display of white
whales in his New York Museum in 1860, it was not
until 1913 that cetaceans were again seen in
captivity, this time when C. H. Townsend, curator of
the New York Aquarium, stumbled upon the idea
exhibiting dolphins as an unbeatable novelty to
attract the crowds.", "During feeding time at Marine
Studios, it is said, dolphins gradually fell into
the habit of jumping up to catch the fish that were
thrown to them, and this miniature spectacle always
amused the public, the keepers and curator. Then a
year later in 1939, Cecil M. Walker, then
responsible for maintenance of the water
purification pumps on the night-shift, observed one
evening how a dolphin pushed a pelican feather
across the surface of the water towards him. "Just
for the hell of it" he took the proffered feather
and threw it back into the water, whereupon, to his
great surprise, the dolphin brought it back again.
The game continued with Walker experimenting with a
ball, an inner tube of a bicycle, small stones and
other objects. As the game took shape with other
dolphins joining in the act, it began to resemble
the repertoire seen today in every dolphinarium in
the world.", quotes from The rose-tinted menagery.
^
"In the golden heyday of the industry, there were at
least 36 assorted dolphinaria or itinerant dolphin
shows in the U.K.", quote from The rose-tinted
menagery
^
"But it is in Fidel Castro's revolutionary Cuba that
dolphin catching in South America has been given a
new lease of life, under the auspices of the quasi
state-run enterprise Acuario Nacional.", quote from
The rose-tinted menagery
^
HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Reuters) - A cargo plane
arrived in the lawless Solomon Islands Monday to
pick up wild dolphins captured to order for a
Mexican syndicate in what activists have blasted as
an environmental crime, regional media reported.
[1]
^
Dolphin aggresion in captivity, listing a large
number of incidents in dolphinariums that resulted
in injury to either dolphins or trainers, including
self-inflicted trauma. There is mention of one fatal
incident involving a trainer.
^
"The biologists of Xcaret Park and veterinarians
meet all the needs of these amazing dolphins. They
monitor their health, weight, food, and in some
facilities they conduct research on their behavior
to present their findings at international
conferences. Here, dolphins are treated with care
and respect; their well being is always the main
priority. In fact, biologists claim that the life
expectancy of a dolphin, which is about 40 years,
increases when they are placed in captivity or
semi-captivity (in extensive areas of their natural
habitat). As proof of this, dolphins have actually
been born in one of these aquariums.", quote from:
[2]
^
"Animal facilitated therapy with dolphins is more
effective than "water" therapy in treating people
with mild to moderate depression after the influence
of the natural setting has been controlled for, as
shown by our randomised, single blind, controlled
trial. The animal care programme improved the
depressive symptoms of the participants
significantly more than the outdoor nature programme.
The natural setting itself is also an important
factor that has to be considered in the treatment of
emotional disorders. This is confirmed by other
studies. The effects exerted by the animals were
significantly greater than those of just the natural
setting.", quote from
Randomised controlled trial of animal facilitated
therapy with dolphins in the treatment of depression,
a paper by Christian Antonioli, PhD candidate in
psychiatry and Michael A Reveley, professor of
psychiatry.
Marine Attractions - Below the surface - several
articles by the Sun Sentinel on marine mammals in
captivity, mainly in the United States. Includes photos
and videos.
Tursiops.org - news on dolphins and other whales in
captivity.
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