Just because a dolphin has a smile on its face doesn’t mean it’s happy. In fact, dolphins in captivity are among the most stressed creatures around, an expert claimed in Nassau yesterday.
It’s a point Dr Naomi Rose, a marine mammal specialist, would like to discuss with Atlantis boss Sol Kerzner before he goes ahead with plans to create a big new dolphinarium at his expanding Paradise Island resort.
Dr Rose, who works for Humane Society International, based in Washington DC, is in Nassau for two days to talk over marine mammal protection issues with government officials and local environmentalists.
Yesterday, she met officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the hope that some of her views will find their way into draft legislation.
Scientific
Now her hope is that Mr Kerzner will agree to a face-to-face meeting so that she can explain current scientific thinking on the expanding “swim with dolphins” industry, and its effects on the animals themselves.
Ideally, Dr Rose would like Kerzner International to rethink its dolphinarium plans and be “more innovative” by exploiting hi-tech, virtual reality alternatives.
She and her environmentalist colleagues are concerned that the spread of dolphinariums in the Caribbean region will have appalling long-term effects on what she regards as probably the sea’s most intelligent and socially aware creatures.
“I oppose the expansion of these programmes and would like to see the Bahamas become engaged in this issue at the highest level,” she told The Tribune.
Confinement of dolphins was “inherently stressful” for them, she said, because their biology did not make them suitable for captivity.
“There are certain species that are not suited to be confined in small spaces,” she added.
Evidence suggested that confinement shortened dolphins’ lives, with most dying at around 17 or 18 years instead of the possible lifespan of 30 or 40 years.
Although some dolphins bonded with humans while in captivity, it was an “illusion” to imagine they were enjoying themselves. “Anatomically, their mouths curve up like a smile. Inevitably, that has been exploited but the fact is that, because of their high IQ, dolphins are easily bored and that is where their stress comes from.”
Dr Rose would like to see “cutting edge, hi-tech” displays replace live animal programmes. Instead of copying its competitors, Atlantis should be more innovative and set a new example, she said.
“Most facilities consult experts who tell them what they want to hear,” she said, “I would like decisions to be made on a more informed basis. “I am here to offer information. I would like to make sure that when they make these decisions, they do it with all the information on their files.”
Dr Rose said the capture of dolphins was in itself traumatic and often fatal. And, unlike an aquarium for fish, it was impossible to create a dolphin habitat.
She likened a dolphinarium to a white collar prison, saying that even with regular food and all creature comforts laid on, intelligent captives could not be happy.
With its relatively big brain and much higher IQ than other sea creatures, a dolphin became bored by confinement and its quality of life was much reduced.
Like humans, dolphins needed challenges and control over their own lives. While they were probably not facing direct cruelty, their captivity was “inherently problematic”, she said.
With “swim with dolphins” programmes spreading through the Caribbean, there would eventually be a saturation of the market. “At some point this will become passe,” she said.
“In 10 to 15 years it is going to be disastrous for the dolphins, with local stocks being depleted. And what happens to captured dolphins when they become superfluous?”
Dr Rose said new research suggested that dolphin social groups often had “key” figures whose presence was essential to their cohesion. Once these were removed into captivity, the group fell apart.
“I would like the Bahamas not to join the queue and copycat what others are doing. I would like them to invest in something significant here and be truly innovative and lead the pack instead of following.
“Our focus is on the Caribbean because it is a hotspot for capture and expanding facilities. My long-term aim is to see these animals left in the ocean. I would like to see captivity phased out.”
Awareness
Environmentalist Sam Duncombe, who with animal rights activist Jane Mather also attended yesterday’s ministry meeting, said: “We are trying to raise some awareness about the captivity issue in general.
“We need to consider the welfare of the animals to a larger degree than is happening right now.”
She said the existing Fisheries Act provided some protection for sea creatures, including dolphins, but new laws were needed that were far more comprehensive. “Are we to become a huge dolphin warehouse?” she asked.
The “swim with dolphins” business was currently a cash cow with people paying up to $100 a time for a 20-minute swim. “They are shovelling these people through by the truckload,” she said.
“I am embarrassed as a Bahamian that we show so little imagination in protecting our wildlife.
“We should be looking into preservation long-term. “I can’t believe that, as a leaderin this region, we are following in this regard.”
The Tribune
October 6, 2004
