Dolphin Facts : About Dolphins in Captivity

Dolphins in captivity often have medical issues that prevent them from being returned to the wild. They are cared for by veterinarians and trainers in order to educate the public. Find out more about captive dolphins with information from a dolphin behavioral husbandry and rehabilitation coordinator in this free video on dolphins.

Expert: Petra Cunningham-Smith
Contact: www.mote.org/
Bio: Petra Cunningham-Smith is the behavioral husbandry and rehabilitation coordinator inside the Dolphin & Whale Hospital in Sarasota, Fla.
Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• dolphins
• mammals
• dolphin facts
• dolphin communication
• dolphin tricks

[Sweetdolphin1997]

Captivity is bad for them, its artificial training

[bhowable]

@ianam1983 Ok well what the heck!? the dolphins were jumping around in the tank! Their should be no reason they shouldn't let them go.

[bhowable]

After I really think about it, nobody should be keeping dolphins in captivity unless they are hurt. And if they are hurt, then you should keep them in captivity until the dolphin is healthy once again, NOT for public entertainment. I have seen dolphins in the wild and in captivity, and let me tell you their personalities are a lot more different.

[Jaydee517]

dollars this is what this its all about who you tryin to fool here ?

[peepchick101]

Commenting on this video again to say that while Mote does indeed do true rehab of wild dolphins, very very few places do. Sea World, Six Flags, Shedd Aquarium, and many other theme parks/zoos either capture marine mammals from their habitats in the wild or breed them. They are then confined to a small concrete tank their entire life to amuse people. I think a lot of people watch this video and believe ALL captive dolphins were rescued - certainly not!!

[94CHL]

If you guys are going too keep dolphins in captivity, keep them as wild as you possibly can. Using them for the publics entertainment is not helping them, & if you think otherwise, then you should not be allowed with in an inch of a dolphin.

[NavyPorpoiseMovement]

@Kyofighter93 Wild dolphins only really use echolocation when they're hunting or are in very murky water anyways. So I would'nt consider it deprevation. Captive dolphins don't really need thier echolocation anyways. Thanks for the info.

[Kyofighter93]

@NavyPorpoiseMovement Not really. Most habitats arent really echolocation friendly. The sounds uselky bounce from wall to wall, which some would say is sensory deprivation, but some are. Just make sure there is no ambiguity i am neither pro or anti cap; I just love animals plain and simple.

[Kyofighter93]

@uptheproverbialcreek Realy because it seems the breeding population has stabalized and why would they push for more captures instead of procuring animals already in captivity. Where do you get this information from?

[uptheproverbialcreek]

@NavyPorpoiseMovement The Australian captive population is not stable through breeding, between 1999 approx 1/3 of the breeding stock was lost due to presumed Clostridium perfringens infections. Since regular vaccinations the mortality rate improved. Due to loss of stock the marine park (Sea World Australia - not affiliated with US Sea Worlds) has been pushing to capture wild males in order to collect sperm.