We Oppose Import of Captive Bermuda Dolphins
Recently, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute joined several colleague organizations in opposing a proposed import of three captive bottlenose dolphins. The proposed permit indicates the dolphins are heading either to Coral World on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands or the Brookfield Zoo of Illinois. We oppose the import proposal in part because it’s unclear where the dolphins will actually go, and because neither proposed place is suitable. The import is now pending a final decision by government authorities.
The three captive bottlenose dolphins are to come from Dolphin Quest based in Bermuda. Dolphin Quest is yet another swim-with-dolphins tourist facility masquerading as a “scientific, educational” institution.
Coral World is the notorious new sea pen operation in a small bay in St. Thomas that has serious water quality problems, yet is expanding. Four dolphins from the failed swim-with-dolphins facility Dolphinaris, based in Arizona, were transferred to Coral World following the deaths of four other bottlenose dolphins in Dolphinaris from causes still unexplained. Coral World is set up to provide swim-with-captive-dolphins sessions to Caribbean tourists. Dolphinaris has since been shut down.
Authorities in St. Thomas have periodically issued health warnings and swimming closures for public beaches in the bay where Coral World is located, due to high bacterial counts. The bottlenose dolphins from Coral World, of course, have no choice but to swim in the bay 24-7. Yet this is precisely where the three additional imported dolphins from Bermuda might end up. Could the Coral World dolphins transmit stressors or pathogens to the Bermuda dolphins? The risk is too great.
The Brookfield Zoo has its own sordid history of dolphin deaths. According to an analysis by the Arizona Republic, Brookfield Zoo has the second-highest death rate among captive dolphins in the US. This account is based on information obtained from the US National Marine Fisheries Service, which is considering whether or not to issue the permit for the 3 dolphin import. A total of 28 dolphins have died at Brookfield Zoo, half of which were dolphins less than a year old.
Keeping intelligent and social dolphins in small tanks and/or small sea pens in polluted bays is simply not acceptable, yet the captivity industry grinds on, powered by the huge profits generated from people who love dolphin entertainment. It is time dolphinariums like Coral World and Brookfield Zoo release their dolphins and whales to seaside sanctuaries, where dolphins can be dolphins, located far away from pollution centers and boat traffic.
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