Dolphin Research Paper
Andrea Nanos
College Writing 112
John Gallagher
27 November 2012
Dolphins in Captivity
Introduction
Most people are fascinated with dolphins and crave to see them in Sea World, or another aquarium, and even enjoy seeing them perform in shows. However, most people do not think about the harm that dolphins go through in order for the public to see them. Dolphins go through an immense amount of physical and mental harm solely for our entertainment. I never thought about the harm they go through when I first saw dolphins perform in a show. I, like most people my age, simply assumed that the aquariums actually cared for the dolphins. However, people that believe this are naïve. We enjoy the shows so much that we do not want to think about what goes on behind the scenes. People need to become more aware of the harm dolphins go through while living in captivity because we are the ones with the power to stop it.
My Experience with Dolphins When I was in the sixth grade, my parents took me to Sea World to see dolphins because they had always been my favorite animals. I saw the dolphins perform in the show “Blue Horizons”. I remember thinking that the show was amazing, and I became even more interested in dolphins. Being so up close to the dolphins at Sea World was better than I ever imagined. This experience was very exciting to me because I had always dreamt of what it would be like to interact with a dolphin. This experience made me become even more infatuated with dolphins, so when I got back from Florida I decided to do some research on them. When I researched how dolphins are trained in captivity, I found the results to be astonishing. I was amazed at how dolphins are not cared for well enough when they are in captivity. Dolphins that perform in shows are especially under-cared for because they are forced to perform every day against their will. I have not seen a dolphin show since I found out how harmful captivity is for them. People need to be aware of the
College Writing 112
John Gallagher
27 November 2012
Dolphins in Captivity
Introduction
Most people are fascinated with dolphins and crave to see them in Sea World, or another aquarium, and even enjoy seeing them perform in shows. However, most people do not think about the harm that dolphins go through in order for the public to see them. Dolphins go through an immense amount of physical and mental harm solely for our entertainment. I never thought about the harm they go through when I first saw dolphins perform in a show. I, like most people my age, simply assumed that the aquariums actually cared for the dolphins. However, people that believe this are naïve. We enjoy the shows so much that we do not want to think about what goes on behind the scenes. People need to become more aware of the harm dolphins go through while living in captivity because we are the ones with the power to stop it.
My Experience with Dolphins When I was in the sixth grade, my parents took me to Sea World to see dolphins because they had always been my favorite animals. I saw the dolphins perform in the show “Blue Horizons”. I remember thinking that the show was amazing, and I became even more interested in dolphins. Being so up close to the dolphins at Sea World was better than I ever imagined. This experience was very exciting to me because I had always dreamt of what it would be like to interact with a dolphin. This experience made me become even more infatuated with dolphins, so when I got back from Florida I decided to do some research on them. When I researched how dolphins are trained in captivity, I found the results to be astonishing. I was amazed at how dolphins are not cared for well enough when they are in captivity. Dolphins that perform in shows are especially under-cared for because they are forced to perform every day against their will. I have not seen a dolphin show since I found out how harmful captivity is for them. People need to be aware of the
Cited: "Campaigns, Marine Mammals." The Plight of Marine Mammals. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/marine/captivity.html>. "In Opposition to Dolphin Captivity : Blood Dolphins : Animal Planet." Animal Planet: Animal Planet: Animal Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2012. <http://animal.discovery.com/tv/blood-dolphins/dolphins/opposition-dolphins-captivity.html>. Johnson, Brian. "Killing Flipper." EBSCOhost 122.29/30 (2009): 69-70. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. "Marine Mammals in Captivity : The Humane Society of the United States ." The Humane Society of the United States : The Humane Society of the United States . N.p., 25 Sept. 2009. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/captive_marine/facts/marine_captivity.html>. Riley, David, and Douglas Faulkner. "Our Love of Dolphins has Turned into a Questionable Affair." EBSCOhost 23.10 (1993): 58. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012.