NZ: Dolphins protect humans....

[K6-III]

Somehow, this reminds me of an episode of Flipper...

[Helevitia]

Originally posted by Brian Ellis
Many of the dolphins in captivity live a miserable existence and they are prone to many diseases resulting from their confinement.

I'll add a positive spin to this. These dolphins that I encountered were extremely happy and loved showing off. Nicole, the friend that allowed us to participate with the dolphins has worked there for 8 years, really enjoyed working with these dolphins. Along iwth the other 4 girls that day, I'd say they actually loved these dolphins and they talked to them like they were a pet dog or cat. The dolphins responded with great hapiness. So, while I'm sure there are places where dolphins are slaughtered and treated horribly, there are probably just as many more that treat dolphins like they should be treated, with great respect and care.

[Jessterw]

As always, there are good and bad sides to all stories. Not so long ago we had the same sort of two-sided "debates" over whales (namely orcas - "killer whales"). If we should have learned anything, it's that animals held in captive should be given an environment as close to their natural as is possible; plenty of room to roam being a very key aspect.

That said, in the many chances I've had to see dolphins in captivity and in nature, only at the oh so wonderful Sea World (in Florida) did I ever feel the dolphins were being treated less than optimally (this went for the orcas as well, but that was already a big issue at the time).

[Dr Mordrid]

I've actually had two encounters with dolphins; one in a dolphin park and one in the wild during a dive in the Florida keys.

In both cases I felt as if the dolphins were as interested in me as I was in them and at no time did I feel threatened by the "wild" ones (bottlenose). They were if anything more curious and very interested in my bubbles and regulator.

Some might take this like interacting with a very smart dog, but not so. To me it was MUCH more intense, maybe because I had the distinct physical sensation that I was being probed by its sonar. It felt like a tingly resonance in my chest. I may have felt this more easily because I wasn't in a wetsuit while my buddy was in one.

Probably as close as I'll get to feeling I was in the presense of a benevolent "alien" intelligence.

Anyone who has a chance to do this and doesn't take it is, IMO, a damned fool.

Dr. Mordrid

[Jessterw]

Oddly enough, in the number of years I've been diving, I've never been lucky enough to have an up-close encounter with dolphins in their own environment (I have been around them on the surface). Sadly, the chances have decreased significantly now that I live in a land-locked state.

They are beautiful creatures and the is definitely a sense of knowing in their gaze and mannerisms. A sharp contrast to the other larger sea-animal I have been up-close with during a dive - sharks (sand tigers mainly).

[Dr Mordrid]

Funny thing is that I've had at most 3 dozen dives in salt water and got lucky. Most of my dives have been in the Great Lakes (Tobermorey etc.) and smaller lakes of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Dr. Mordrid