dolphins in captivity

Dolphins in captivity / public display Dolphins in captivity / public display enclosures enclosures

– – To be or not to be?To be or not to be?

Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose DolphinTursiops aduncusTursiops aduncus

Indo-pacific Hump-backed Dolphin Indo-pacific Hump-backed Dolphin Sousa chinensisSousa chinensis

Bottlenose Dolphin (Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Tursiops aduncusaduncus))

Live in pods that number ~ 15 Live in pods that number ~ 15 dolphins, but group size dolphins, but group size varies from solitary varies from solitary bottlenose dolphins up to bottlenose dolphins up to mixed groups of over 100 to mixed groups of over 100 to 10001000 (Wells, R. and Scott, M. 2002)(Wells, R. and Scott, M. 2002)

Shallow coastal waters on the Shallow coastal waters on the continental shelf and around continental shelf and around oceanic islands. Observed to oceanic islands. Observed to dive to depths of >450m dive to depths of >450m ((Klatsky et. al. 2007)Klatsky et. al. 2007)

Status: Data deficient, Status: Data deficient, unknown trend unknown trend (IUCN 2008)(IUCN 2008)

Solomon Solomon IslandsIslands

Bottlenose Dolphin (Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Tursiops aduncusaduncus))

Most commonly kept dolphin species Most commonly kept dolphin species (800 globally)(800 globally)

No dolphinarium in the UKNo dolphinarium in the UK

Single-trained bottlenose dolphin Single-trained bottlenose dolphin $100,000$100,000 Generates $1,000,000 per year for the marine Generates $1,000,000 per year for the marine

parkpark

Issue:1. Marine Life Park at Resorts World Sentosa

plans to import wild-caught bottlenose dolphins (18) captured from the Solomon Islands

2. Currently there are five Indo-pacific Hump-backed dolphins in the Dolphin Lagoon at Sentosa

“Although the importation of bottlenose dolphins is legal with a permit, animal

activists are upset, saying the wild dolphins were not collected sustainably and will not

thrive in captivity.”

Should Singapore allow Should Singapore allow imports of bottlenose imports of bottlenose

dolphins?dolphins?

Pro-public displayPro-public displaylobbylobby

Anti-captivityAnti-captivitylobbylobby

VSVS

•EducationEducation•ResearchResearch•Animal WelfareAnimal Welfare

EducationEducationLarge graphic displays on dolphin biology, threats and Large graphic displays on dolphin biology, threats and

importance of conservationimportance of conservationA 2005 public opinion poll conducted by Harris Interactive A 2005 public opinion poll conducted by Harris Interactive

found the following: found the following: 97%97% of respondents agree that marine life parks, aquariums, and of respondents agree that marine life parks, aquariums, and

zoos play an zoos play an important role in educating the publicimportant role in educating the public about about marine mammals they might not otherwise have the chance to see. marine mammals they might not otherwise have the chance to see.

96%96% agree that marine life parks, aquariums and zoos provide agree that marine life parks, aquariums and zoos provide people with people with valuable information about the importancevaluable information about the importance of of oceans, waters, and the animals that live there.oceans, waters, and the animals that live there.

93%93% agree that visiting a marine life park, aquarium, or zoo can agree that visiting a marine life park, aquarium, or zoo can inspire conservation actioninspire conservation action that can help marine mammals and that can help marine mammals and their natural environment.their natural environment.

93%93% agree that people are agree that people are more likely to be concerned about more likely to be concerned about animalsanimals if they learn about them at marine life parks, aquariums, if they learn about them at marine life parks, aquariums, and zoos. and zoos.

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/bottlenose/conservation.htmhttp://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/bottlenose/conservation.htm

Pro-public displayPro-public display

EducationEducationUnnatural behaviour portrayed in animal shows Unnatural behaviour portrayed in animal shows

sends the wrong messagesends the wrong message


balancing balancing balls on balls on rostrum rostrum

jumping through hoopsjumping through hoops

EducationEducationPolling data not scientific, no systematic Polling data not scientific, no systematic

sociological analysis conductedsociological analysis conductedIn a 1996 poll, 85% of people surveyed in the UK In a 1996 poll, 85% of people surveyed in the UK

agreed that it is unacceptable to keep whales and agreed that it is unacceptable to keep whales and dolphins in captivity dolphins in captivity


ResearchResearchExtensive observations and evaluations Extensive observations and evaluations

conducted to understand reproduction conducted to understand reproduction and husbandry in dolphins and husbandry in dolphins

Male dolphin calf, Splash, was born on 7 Male dolphin calf, Splash, was born on 7 Nov 2002Nov 2002


ResearchResearchData obtained from captive dolphins often Data obtained from captive dolphins often

do not accurately represent conditions in do not accurately represent conditions in the wildthe wild (Kannan, 1997)(Kannan, 1997)

Captive breeding not successfully due to Captive breeding not successfully due to high infant mortality rate, dolphins high infant mortality rate, dolphins imported from wild to sustain dolphin imported from wild to sustain dolphin population population (Rose, 2004)(Rose, 2004)


WelfareWelfareNaturalistic settingNaturalistic setting

Undulating floorUndulating floorFringed with sandy beach and palm treesFringed with sandy beach and palm trees

Seawater teeming with local topical Seawater teeming with local topical marine lifemarine life

Studies of steroid hormones showed that Studies of steroid hormones showed that stress is not an issue stress is not an issue (Dolphin Quest/ Sea World (Dolphin Quest/ Sea World study 2000)study 2000)


WelfareWelfareToo small for normal range; dolphins are deep-Too small for normal range; dolphins are deep-

diving predators, swim over 50km/day diving predators, swim over 50km/day (Connor 2000)(Connor 2000)


Dolphin Lagoon, SentosaDolphin Lagoon, SentosaVolume: 30,000,000 litresVolume: 30,000,000 litresSurface Area: 8,000 square metresSurface Area: 8,000 square metres

4km4km

WelfareWelfareToo small for normal range; dolphins are deep-diving Too small for normal range; dolphins are deep-diving

predators, swim over 50km/day (Connor 2000)predators, swim over 50km/day (Connor 2000)Similar mortality rates in captivity compared to wildSimilar mortality rates in captivity compared to wild

Increased aggressiveness, susceptibility to infections, Increased aggressiveness, susceptibility to infections, gastric ulcersgastric ulcers


WildWild •Natural predationNatural predation•Food ShortagesFood Shortages•By-catchBy-catch•PollutionPollution

Marine ParkMarine Park •High High experienced experienced trainerstrainers•In-house vetIn-house vet

WelfareWelfareIgnores impact of capture on complex social Ignores impact of capture on complex social

grouping in the wildgrouping in the wildDemand for dolphins from marine parks Demand for dolphins from marine parks

encourages native fishermen to capture using encourages native fishermen to capture using unsophisticated methodsunsophisticated methods Rounded up into nets, dragged onto boats and Rounded up into nets, dragged onto boats and

transferred to shallow penstransferred to shallow pens 2003 Solomon Islands, 4 out of 200 dolphins died2003 Solomon Islands, 4 out of 200 dolphins died


What can be done?What can be done?PROTEST!!! PROTEST!!!

NAH…NAH…

Medium for youth social movement: Join Medium for youth social movement: Join FACEBOOK CAUSE!FACEBOOK CAUSE!

Increase public awareness, talk to your friends!Increase public awareness, talk to your friends!

Connor, R.C. Wells, R.S., Mann, J. & Read, A.J. (2000) The Bottlenose Dolphin: Social Relationships in a Fission-Fusion Society. In Mann, J. Connor, R.C., Tyack, P.L. & Whitehead, H. (Eds.) Cetacean Societies: Field Studies of Dolphins and Whales (pp. 91-126). University of Chicago Press, London

K Kannan, S Tanabe. (1997). Response to Comment on “Elevated Accumulation of Tributyltin and its Breakdown Products”. Environ. Sci. Technol

Leszek Karczmarski (1999). Group dynamics of humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in the Algoa Bay region, South Africa. Journal of Zoology, 249 , pp 283-293

Wells, R. and Scott, M. (2002). "Bottlenose Dolphins". in Perrin, W.; Wursig, B. and Thewissen, J.. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press. p. 122–127. ISBN 0-12-551340-2.

LJ Klatsky, RS Wells, JC Sweeney. (2007). OFFSHORE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS): MOVEMENT AND DIVE BEHAVIOR NEAR THE BERMUDA PEDESTAL- Journal of Mammalogy

Rose, N.A. (2004) Captive Cetaceans: The Science behind the Ethics. European Cetacean Society 18th Annual Conference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0125513402

dolphins in captivity

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