Encounters with Dolphins A Call for Peace Between Species p2 of 2

In part, this is because other species do not exhibit signs of stress and disturbance in the same ways humans do, so they are easily overlooked. In addition, even seemingly benign interactions with dolphins can make them more vulnerable to harm (deliberate or accidental) from other people. For example, two of the "friendly" free-ranging beluga whales we've been studying in Canada were hit by boat propellers this summer. One of them lost an eye and the other was killed. Disturbingly, it is not uncommon for "friendly" dolphins to be deliberately injured by people who take advantage of their trust. In the U.S., habituated wild dolphins have been fed such items as golf balls and explosives.

I have no choice but to conclude that a precautionary approach to interacting with dolphins is warranted. The burden of proof must now lie with those who want to make a case for interaction with the dolphins, rather than those who want to protect dolphins from harm.

Clearly (and sadly), for dolphins who engage in interspecies interaction, the human species is not the safest option. Dolphins cannot merely "swim away" time and time again in response to the huge numbers of people who want to be close to them. As dolphin researcher Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski has observed, "The ocean is not our home, but our playground. . . we are guests and should act accordingly."

Captive Dolphins

The public can also interact with captive dolphins through a variety of "swim-with-the-dolphins" and "petting/feeding" programs. Despite concerns about the health and welfare of the animals used in these programs, their popularity is increasing worldwide at an astonishing rate, especially in Asia and the tropics, largely due to tourism-related revenues. As these programs increase in popularity, so does the number of dolphins captured from the wild. The demand for captive dolphins does far more than harm the individual animal captured. It also negatively impacts already depleted populations by separating mothers from their calves, by removing breeding (or otherwise important) members of the groups, and by harassing other group members during the process of capture.

As far as I know, mine was the first of only two studies of captive swim programs to date. Both studies observed obvious stress-related behaviours in dolphins that were related to potentially long-term negative physiological states. These included submissive and evasive behaviours related to stress and disturbance. And these were in the American facilities, which are often far better than facilities in other parts of the world.

Most people don't hear about the injuries that people get from swimming with captive dolphins, as they're generally not reported. These have included broken bones, internal injuries, and serious wounds. Such incidents are probably indicative of great stress in these animals. In addition to the 18 or so documented injuries in the U.S. within a five-year period, I personally witnessed many more injuries than those reported during this time.

The educational benefits of these interactive programs are highly questionable. I must say that, after years of watching them, they look like little more than glorified petting zoos, using exotic dolphins instead of domestic farm animals! I doubt that people will be any more likely to work for dolphin protection after participating in these programs than to become vegetarians after visiting a petting zoo. Not only does the public learn little, if anything, about the real life of dolphins, but they actually go home misinformed, thinking that the tricks they saw are representative of how dolphins behave in the wild.

Finally, these captive programs likely perpetuate the problems facing wild dolphins by implying that it is all right to touch and feed dolphins and to treat them like toys or playthings who exist for human amusement.

Dolphin-Assisted Therapy

Dolphin-assisted therapy is highly controversial. Contrary to popular belief, there does not appear to be any peer-reviewed research demonstrating that interaction with dolphins is any more effective than interaction with domestic animals. Even Dr. Betsy Smith, a pioneer whose work with neurologically challenged people led to the development of dolphin-assisted therapy in the 1980s, has decided that she will no longer work with dolphins for ethical reasons.

Dr. Smith says, "In the rush for personal pleasure, people disregarded the damage that could be done to the other species. Therapeutic purposes are often the justification given for this rude invasion. People would never throw their child in with a strange dog, but they'll throw them in with a strange dolphin. What you are looking at are vulnerable people and vulnerable dolphins."

Another pioneer in the field of dolphin-assisted therapy, Dr. Horace Dobbs, has poignantly discovered there simply aren't enough dolphins in the world for everyone.

Peace Between Species

The question remains: how can we be with dolphins responsibly? Clearly, there is a need for people to temper their vigorous and passionate demands to personally experience dolphins with a balanced measure of respect, kindness, and awareness. Humans cannot continue to exploit other species for personal pleasure. Perhaps the "New Age" will inspire us to protect dolphins with the same fervour with which many seek to interact with them.

As world events reflect more and more human violence, the great need for world peace increases. But it is not only humans who inhabit this planet, and therefore world peace does not begin and end with humans. For peace to be global, it must be extended to all the earth's inhabitants, regardless of race, religion, or species. The need for an end to the direct violence of killing and the indirect violence of environmental degradation is something all species share. Perhaps a more gracious and selfless love for dolphins can be a catalyst for a deeper awareness of the delicate interconnectedness of all life.

This article has been excerpted from
"The Kindred Wild" by Toni Frohoff
Between Species: A Celebration of the Dolphin-Human Bond (Sierra Club Books, San Francisco) edited by Toni Frohoff and Brenda Peterson.

Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., is a marine mammal consultant to The Humane Society of the United States, which has an office in Seattle, WA.

To learn more about protecting dolphins, please go to
www.HSUS.org

For information about the author and literature related to this article, go to www.TerraMarResearch.org