Dolphins - Will the dolphins survive if released?

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DOLPHINS

Suffering, not Smiling
The Truth About Captive Dolphins

Will the dolphins survive if released?
Acres recommends that the dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. This will give these dolphins back their freedom and the lives they truly deserve.

Acres, along with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), have said that they will be more than willing to help as consultants in the rehabilitation process.

WSPA has been involved with rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing captive dolphins back into the freedom of the sea for over a decade. WSPA’s expert team includes biologists, rescue specialists and veterinarians, as well as Wildlife Consultants and world-renowned dolphin experts. Undoubtedly, there are risks involved in the rehabilitation and release of any animals. However, WSPA has developed an extensive protocol to facilitate the successful release of captive dolphins to the wild, and to minimize the associated risks.

Although there are still many unknowns, there have been a number of dolphin rehabilitation and release programmes that point to this as a viable option for many captive dolphins. A growing number of experts throughout the world are advocating the rehabilitation and release of dolphins and whales now in captivity (Laidlaw, 1992). Many believe that an animal housed for months or years in an aquarium can be trained to survive in the wild and then released (Laidlaw, 1992). Marine mammal veterinarian Dr. Lanny Cornell (1993) has said, “There is no doubt that whales and dolphins can be successfully re-released to the wild” (Cornell, 1993).

Similarly, according to findings of the workshop on Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release of Marine Mammals, “these data, and the few successful reintroductions of monk seals, harbor seals, bottlenose dolphins and manatees suggest that marine mammals may be easier (emphasis added) to reintroduce successfully to their habitat than other animals such as birds, terrestrial carnivores, and primates” (Aubin et al., 1996).

Marine parks often argue that dolphins in captivity have forgotten how to live in the wild. However, the fact is that captive dolphins have been successfully released into the wild. There have been at least twenty-six successful rehabilitations and releases of dolphins (Balcomb, 1995.) See below for a sample list of successful dolphin releases.

It should also be noted that whales and dolphins are intelligent creatures. If they can learn tricks that are not necessary for survival, then they can surely learn how to survive in the wild again.

Underwater World Singapore has stated that “If breeding is successful, it will also consider releasing the dolphins back to the wild” (The Straits Times, 13th November 1999). UWS thus clearly acknowledged in their own statements that releasing dolphins back to the wild is possible.

Examples of successful dolphin releases (Balcomb, 1995).
1993. Flipper, a male bottlenose dolphin released off Laguna, Brazil after approximately ten years of captivity. Since release, Flipper has been seen along at least 155 miles off the coastline, often in the company of other dolphins.

1992. Bahama Mama, an adult female bottlenose dolphin inadvertently released after at least seventeen years of captivity. No official follow-up occurred, however this dolphin was positively photo-identified up to eight months after release in the company of wild dolphins in the Bahamas.

1992. Matt, an adult male bottlenose dolphin was rehabilitated, freezebranded, and then released after thirty-seven days at Mote Marine Laboratory's facility. Within a matter of minutes, he was associating with a mother-calf pair in the area. At least twelve sightings of Matt were reported in the first nine months following release.

1992. Annessa, a captive-born Atlantic bottle-nose dolphin held at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys disappeared and was feared lost during a hurricane in August 1992. Annessa survived the hurricane, however, and was adopted by a pod of wild dolphins. She has been sighted numerous times - healthy and foraging on her own.

1991. Rocky (male), Missie (female) and Silver (male), three bottlenose dolphins released off Turks and Caicos Islands, after twenty, twenty-two, and fifteen years of captivity respectively. "In the acclimation seapen, they learned how to capture live fish". Released September 1991. All have been re-sighted numerous times since then. In several of the recent sightings, Silver was in the company of JoJo, a "friendly" dolphin that swims near Club Med at Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.

1990. Echo (male) and Misha (male), two adult bottlenose dolphins released intentionally after two years of research, with extensive follow-up. The dolphins had been captured in 1988 with the intention of studying aspects of their reintroduction following captivity. Released on 6th October 1990 off Bishop Harbor, Tampa Bay, Florida in the vicinity where they had been captured. These two dolphins have been re-sighted numerous times, and they appear to have successfully re-acclimated to the wild.

1987. Joe (male) and Rosie (female), two bottlenose dolphins released off Wassaw Island, Georgia, after seven years of captivity. "All reports of their activity in the wild indicate that they are in good health and have associations with resident pods."

1979. Two Pacific bottlenose dolphins (six year old male, eight year old female) permitted ocean access after four years of captivity at Sea Life Park in Hawaii. The dolphins gradually ventured further from their seapen, and eventually after four months of ocean access, they chose to remain at sea.

1972. Opo (female), a bottlenose dolphin returned to original capture site in Biscayne Bay, Florida after one year of captivity at Miami Seaquarium. No follow-up occurred, but the dolphin had readapted to diet of live fish and was allowed to swim away.

Help us campaign against the captive dolphin industry.

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Reference List:

Balcomb, K.C. 1995. Cetacean Releases. Centre for Whale Research, Friday Harbor, WA.

Cornell, L. 1993 (July 8). Preliminary report to Jerye Mooney. Fund for Animals on Keiko, Reino Aventura, Mexico City.

Laidlaw, R. 1992. Dolphins and Whales in Captivity, Zoo Check Canada, Canada.

St. Aubin, D.J., Geraci, J.R., Lounsbury, V.J. 1996. Rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine mammals: an analysis of current views and practices. Proceedings of a workshop held in Des Plaines, Illinois, 3-5 December 1991. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-8.

The Straits Times. 13 November 1999. They won’t somersault on Sentosa. Singapore.

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Welfare concerns for the dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon. Public safety issues at Dolphin Lagoon. Misleading the public about dolphin behaviour. Evidence that the dolphins were wild caught. Will the dolphins survive if released? Discussions with Haw Par. What happens to the dolphins now? How you can help the dolphins! ....................................	CAMPAIGNS DOLPHINS Suffering, not Smiling The Truth About Captive Dolphins Will the dolphins survive if released? Acres recommends that the dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. This will give these dolphins back their freedom and the lives they truly deserve. Acres, along with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), have said that they will be more than willing to help as consultants in the rehabilitation process. WSPA has been involved with rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing captive dolphins back into the freedom of the sea for over a decade. WSPA’s expert team includes biologists, rescue specialists and veterinarians, as well as Wildlife Consultants and world-renowned dolphin experts. Undoubtedly, there are risks involved in the rehabilitation and release of any animals. However, WSPA has developed an extensive protocol to facilitate the successful release of captive dolphins to the wild, and to minimize the associated risks. Although there are still many unknowns, there have been a number of dolphin rehabilitation and release programmes that point to this as a viable option for many captive dolphins. A growing number of experts throughout the world are advocating the rehabilitation and release of dolphins and whales now in captivity (Laidlaw, 1992). Many believe that an animal housed for months or years in an aquarium can be trained to survive in the wild and then released (Laidlaw, 1992). Marine mammal veterinarian Dr. Lanny Cornell (1993) has said, “There is no doubt that whales and dolphins can be successfully re-released to the wild” (Cornell, 1993). Similarly, according to findings of the workshop on Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release of Marine Mammals, “these data, and the few successful reintroductions of monk seals, harbor seals, bottlenose dolphins and manatees suggest that marine mammals may be easier (emphasis added) to reintroduce successfully to their habitat than other animals such as birds, terrestrial carnivores, and primates” (Aubin et al., 1996). Marine parks often argue that dolphins in captivity have forgotten how to live in the wild. However, the fact is that captive dolphins have been successfully released into the wild. There have been at least twenty-six successful rehabilitations and releases of dolphins (Balcomb, 1995.) See below for a sample list of successful dolphin releases. It should also be noted that whales and dolphins are intelligent creatures. If they can learn tricks that are not necessary for survival, then they can surely learn how to survive in the wild again. Underwater World Singapore has stated that “If breeding is successful, it will also consider releasing the dolphins back to the wild” (The Straits Times, 13th November 1999). UWS thus clearly acknowledged in their own statements that releasing dolphins back to the wild is possible. Examples of successful dolphin releases (Balcomb, 1995). 1993. Flipper, a male bottlenose dolphin released off Laguna, Brazil after approximately ten years of captivity. Since release, Flipper has been seen along at least 155 miles off the coastline, often in the company of other dolphins. 1992. Bahama Mama, an adult female bottlenose dolphin inadvertently released after at least seventeen years of captivity. No official follow-up occurred, however this dolphin was positively photo-identified up to eight months after release in the company of wild dolphins in the Bahamas. 1992. Matt, an adult male bottlenose dolphin was rehabilitated, freezebranded, and then released after thirty-seven days at Mote Marine Laboratory's facility. Within a matter of minutes, he was associating with a mother-calf pair in the area. At least twelve sightings of Matt were reported in the first nine months following release. 1992. Annessa, a captive-born Atlantic bottle-nose dolphin held at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys disappeared and was feared lost during a hurricane in August 1992. Annessa survived the hurricane, however, and was adopted by a pod of wild dolphins. She has been sighted numerous times - healthy and foraging on her own. 1991. Rocky (male), Missie (female) and Silver (male), three bottlenose dolphins released off Turks and Caicos Islands, after twenty, twenty-two, and fifteen years of captivity respectively. "In the acclimation seapen, they learned how to capture live fish". Released September 1991. All have been re-sighted numerous times since then. In several of the recent sightings, Silver was in the company of JoJo, a "friendly" dolphin that swims near Club Med at Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. 1990. Echo (male) and Misha (male), two adult bottlenose dolphins released intentionally after two years of research, with extensive follow-up. The dolphins had been captured in 1988 with the intention of studying aspects of their reintroduction following captivity. Released on 6th October 1990 off Bishop Harbor, Tampa Bay, Florida in the vicinity where they had been captured. These two dolphins have been re-sighted numerous times, and they appear to have successfully re-acclimated to the wild. 1987. Joe (male) and Rosie (female), two bottlenose dolphins released off Wassaw Island, Georgia, after seven years of captivity. "All reports of their activity in the wild indicate that they are in good health and have associations with resident pods." 1979. Two Pacific bottlenose dolphins (six year old male, eight year old female) permitted ocean access after four years of captivity at Sea Life Park in Hawaii. The dolphins gradually ventured further from their seapen, and eventually after four months of ocean access, they chose to remain at sea. 1972. Opo (female), a bottlenose dolphin returned to original capture site in Biscayne Bay, Florida after one year of captivity at Miami Seaquarium. No follow-up occurred, but the dolphin had readapted to diet of live fish and was allowed to swim away. Help us campaign against the captive dolphin industry. top ...................................................................................................................... Reference List: Balcomb, K.C. 1995. Cetacean Releases. Centre for Whale Research, Friday Harbor, WA. Cornell, L. 1993 (July 8). Preliminary report to Jerye Mooney. Fund for Animals on Keiko, Reino Aventura, Mexico City. Laidlaw, R. 1992. Dolphins and Whales in Captivity, Zoo Check Canada, Canada. St. Aubin, D.J., Geraci, J.R., Lounsbury, V.J. 1996. Rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine mammals: an analysis of current views and practices. Proceedings of a workshop held in Des Plaines, Illinois, 3-5 December 1991. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-8. The Straits Times. 13 November 1999. They won’t somersault on Sentosa. Singapore. top ......................................................................................................................
		As animals cannot speak up for themselves, it is up to humans to give them a voice, speak up their behalf and end their abuse. more