Dolphins and whales continue to suffer in captivity
May 2009

A new report has exposed the ongoing suffering of dolphins and whales in captivity for public entertainment.

The Humane Society United States and the World Society for the Protection of Animals have published the fourth edition of their in-depth report, The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity, to educate tourists about the suffering that goes on behind the scenes.

The report shows “the changing nature of the captive display industry”, with more ‘swim with dolphins’ facilities opened in the Caribbean and Asia, in part because of promotion by cruise lines.

The notorious dolphin drive hunts that take place annually in Japan have continued to supply bottlenose dolphins and other species to aquaria, primarily in Asia.

Among the report's main findings:

• Annual mortality rates for captive orcas are three times as high as for their wild counterparts
• Swim-with-dolphins attractions are proliferating throughout the Caribbean and Asia. These facilities are largely unregulated and most of the newest ones are being stocked with wild-caught dolphins
• Bottlenose dolphins face a six-fold increase in risk of mortality immediately after capture from the wild and immediately after every transfer between facilities. They never become accustomed to transport, and the stress they experience can be fatal.
• Injuries in interactive encounters (whether swim-with attractions, petting pools or the like) occur far more frequently than officially reported.

The full report is available on the HSUS website

How you can help:

	Don't visit any captive animal facility such as dolphinariums
	Encourage friends and family to avoid such places
	Become a CAPS supporter - you can help to make a difference.

Photos © CAPS