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News Archives April, 2002 Make a splash this summer by becoming cruelty-free People love dolphins. Doesn't matter what country they're from or how old they are, people have been intrigued and entertained by dolphins for centuries. The captivity industry has flourished as a direct result of our collective love of dolphins and our desire to see them up close and personal. Ironically, if people realized the inherent cruelty involved with capturing and confining these magnificent creatures, most would never dream of participating in such a spectacle. Dolphin shows and swim-with-dolphin programs know this and often go to great lengths to create a façade of smiling dolphins, happy to be living in swimming pools and performing tricks for food rewards of dead fish. Fortunately for the dolphins, WSPA is working to shatter this myth and to expose the truth behind the dolphin's smile. The captivity industry exists to make money and to fulfill the demand for interactive experiences with dolphins. Dolphins are often captured from the wild, torn away from their families and the only world that they know, to supply marine parks and aquariums with their star attractions. What dolphin enthusiasts must remember is that once the thrill of swimming with a dolphin or watching dolphin acrobatics wears off, they will go home but the dolphins are trapped for life, forced to perform the same interactions day after day in silent desperation. "Education" and "conservation" are popular buzzwords used by marine-themed parks and swim-with-dolphins programs. However, marine parks have historically shown no more desire to conserve marine mammals in the wild than they have in educating the public. In fact, the industry has been a powerful voice in lobbying to keep cetaceans, such as orcas and dolphins, outside the jurisdiction of the International Whaling Commission. The captivity industry opposes protection for these select marine mammals because they don't want to risk future laws prohibiting their capture from the wild. There is a growing movement among dolphin enthusiasts, conservationists and compassionate people around the world that believes that dolphins, orcas and other cetaceans do not belong in captivity. In England, consumer boycotts have forced all the marine parks to close. Canada no longer allows beluga whales to be captured and exported. In Brazil, it is now illegal to use marine mammals for entertainment. Israel has outlawed the importation of dolphins for use in marine parks. And in the United States, South Carolina has banned all whale and dolphin displays and other states are currently working on legislation to prohibit the capture or restrict the display of marine mammals. The tide is rapidly turning away from keeping dolphins in captivity and declining ticket sales will show that the general public will not support an industry founded upon animal suffering and exploitation. Please join WSPA in our mission to free dolphins from their imprisonment by just saying no to dolphin exhibits and swim-with-dolphin programs. There are many cruelty-free ways that individuals can learn about and view dolphins that don't involve ripping them from the wild and placing them in chlorinated prisons. Follow the link below to read WSPA's list of dolphin friendly activities that can be pursued in your local community or while on holiday. Links:
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