Dolphins in captivity endure seven stages of suffering in their tragic lives
News
More than 3,000 dolphins are currently trapped in cruel captive conditions at tourist entertainment venues around the world. They can live for over 50 years in a miserable cycle of suffering, all to profit the multibillion-dollar dolphin tourism industry.
Behind every captive dolphin’s smile is trauma.
We’re looking forward to a future where we can travel again, but as tourism returns the cruelty must not.
Join the pod by pledging to only see dolphins in the wild, and together, we can make this the last generation of dolphins in captivity.
Stage one
Most dolphins in the tourism industry are bred in captivity, instantly born into a long life of constant misery just so the tourism industry and individuals can make a profit.
Stage two
Dolphin calves are separated from their mothers at a very young age which is distressing and traumatising for both mother and baby.
Stage three
Captive dolphins are kept in permanent tanks and pools 200,000 times smaller than their home range in the wild.
Stage four
The smooth, featureless tanks dolphins are confined in give them no mental stimulation, no way to act out their natural behaviours and no place to retreat from staring tourists.
Stage five
Dolphins can be deprived of food as a training method, meaning they’re left with little choice but to perform for frozen dead fish.
Stage six
Many captive dolphins grind their teeth down, bob their heads, and swim in circles due to the unnatural, stressful captive conditions.
Stage seven
Captive dolphins can live for over 50 years, repeating a cruel cycle of frustration, stress and misery for decades until their tragic lives end.
Help us end the suffering and support a dolphin friendly future where dolphins are living wild and free as they should be.
Help us end the suffering and support a dolphin friendly future where dolphins are living wild and free as they should be.