World Week of Action for Captive Dolphins, 1 - 7 July
Incorporating World Day for Captive Dolphins, 4 July
Archive - June 2005

DON'T LET YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY BECOME PART OF A DOLPHIN'S NIGHTMARE

CAPS is again supporting Cetacea Defence during its week of action to highlight the suffering of dolphins and whales in captivity.

Cetacea Defence came up with the concept of organising a World Day of Action for Captive Dolphins in 1992, and the following year the last dolphinarium in the UK closed down. However, many British tourists still visit whale and dolphins shows while on holiday abroad and, in addition to supporting campaigns in countries where dolphinariums exist, CAPS is encouraging people to act as 'compassionate travellers' and avoid funding animal cruelty while on holiday.

Behind the dolphin's 'smile' lies a world of horror. Most dolphins in captive shows have been taken from the wild, ripped from their families, often as part of the notorious 'dolphin drives' where some dolphins are killed for their flesh and other sold live to zoos.

Once in captivity, the dolphin's whole life is reduced to performing in concrete tanks that prevent them from communicating or diving properly.

The opportunity to swim with dolphins in captivity causes even greater risks to the animals as well as to people.

To learn about the cruelties of dolphinariums and swimming with captive dolphins, see Marine Connection's informative website.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

	LEAFLETS Order leaflets from Cetacea Defence (cetaceadefenceuk@yahoo.co.uk) or CAPS and distribute them to the public. Ask your local travel agent or airport if they will display them, or hold an information stall (or simply hand them out in your town centre).
	POSTERS Download the posters from our website, and use them in your displays: Dolphin drive (PDF) Help! (PDF) Captive dolphin (PDF)
	LETTERS Cetacea Defence have produced a standard letter that you can adapt and send to your local newspapers, asking people not to visit dolphinariums while on holiday.
	FACTSHEETS For more information on how to avoid supporting animal suffering during your holiday read our factsheet.
	T-SHIRTS AND VIDEOS CAPS produces various materials promoting campaigns against dolphinariums and other animal cruelty, including t-shirts, videos and leaflets - click here for more details.

Photographs © Captive Animals Protection Society