Should dolphins be wild and free?

(c) www.georgelogan.co.uk

Across the world, more than 3,600 dolphins and whales are exploited in captivity. But Born Free’s new Tank Free campaign encourages holiday-makers not to buy tickets to dolphin shows, take selfies or join swim-withs that exploit captive ‘cetaceans’. With your help, we’re telling the travel industry loud and clear – it’s time to end this outmoded entertainment.  

Cetaceans are clever, complex, wide-ranging beings who suffer in captivity. They don’t belong in concrete tanks or shallow sea pens. But don’t take our word for it. Hear what two of our younger supporters have to say:

 Born Free Junior Ambassador, Leo Sordello-Savale

Leo Sordello-Savale

“Do you like dolphins? Do you like orcas? Do you like beluga whales? I love them too! But I hate that we keep some in marine parks across the world, to me, ‘captive cetaceans’ are two words that must not be together. Dolphins and orcas are symbols of intelligence, strength and freedom.

“They swim long distances in the wild, using elaborate hunting techniques. They are social and sentient animals, they love their family and babies just like us. And, just like us, they have sophisticated languages. They care for their family and they use their intelligence to hunt.

“But in captivity they are isolated, they cannot hunt, they cannot travel. They spend their lives in tanks, having to perform tricks. It’s time marine parks stopped using us children and education as an excuse to justify this cruelty. Most children refuse to go once they know how cruel marine parks are.”

Born Free Youth Ambassador, Ayan Kamath Mehra

Ayan Kamath Mehra

“Cetaceans are wonders of evolution. These mammals adapted from land-dwelling ancestors to not only survive, but conquer the vast, open ocean.

“Yet today, we are snatching them from their deserved seas and putting them in aquariums for our admiration. We reduce the majesty of the ocean to mere props for our entertainment. Captivity causes cetaceans not just psychological, but physical harm, and is outright ethically unjustifiable.

“In the wild, grey whales annually migrate 10,000 miles, and Cuvier’s beaked whale routinely dives below 2,000 metres. Cetaceans are built to move. And, just as in humans, if this movement is severely restricted, health complications will be commonplace.

“In the wild, male orcas can be recognized by their large dorsal fins which can stand up to six feet tall. In captivity, due to unnatural swimming patterns, and increased time near the surface of the water, the fins tend to collapse. Another consequence of them being too close to the surface is painful sunburn.

“So, what can you do? Well, advocating for phasing out captivity can be very powerful, as can educating people to the truth behind these experiences. So, say no to harmful cetacean captivity, and appreciate these creatures for what they really are.”