World Captive Dolphin Day is celebrated on July 4, with the aim of raising awareness about the suffering caused to these animals by their capture, as well as achieving a worldwide ban on dolphinariums.
An aquatic species that deserves its full freedom
Dolphins are aquatic animals known for their high intelligence and beauty. They do not deserve to be kept in captivity, as this significantly affects their development and behavior.
According to numerous studies, it has been found that, when in captivity, dolphins can suffer from high levels of stress, in addition to affecting their physiological functions such as mating.
Spending much of their lives living in tanks with extremely limited space compared to their natural habitat can cause them irreversible damage.
Dolphins are animals with very particular and special physical characteristics that are not suited to captivity. On the contrary, they are marine species that need the vast marine universe to reproduce and live naturally.
The life expectancy of dolphins in the wild is between 25 and 50 years, but those that are captured tend to die within the first two years. Furthermore, according to expert research, those living in dolphinariums do not live beyond six years.
Could dolphins disappear from the oceans?
If these beautiful and wonderful animals continue to be used for human entertainment and commerce, they will most likely eventually disappear from the oceans.
With alarming frequency, dolphins in captivity end up dying for various reasons, but the main one is being outside their habitat and not enjoying complete freedom.
However, many countries, especially in Europe, have decided to ban dolphinariums to put an end to this tragedy. This has been possible thanks to the outcry of thousands of people who see this practice as cruel to a marine species that has proven capable of showing emotions and communicating with humans.
What is life like for dolphins in their natural habitat?
When dolphins are in their natural habitat, they are capable of performing various marine feats. They are creatures that exhibit almost human behavior, displaying feelings and attitudes that humans have not yet been able to decipher.
They are very fast animals that can travel great distances. It is estimated that they can swim up to 100 kilometers in a day, which is why they are characterized as a species that enjoys the freedom provided by aquatic life.
This is not possible when they are taken out of the sea and placed in pools with very limited space, which do not allow them to orient themselves correctly or swim as is their true nature. In addition, there are other factors that end up killing this beautiful species, such as the chemicals used to maintain these aquatic prisons.
Some countries have already recognized dolphins as species of extraordinary value to humanity. For example, in India they are considered beings that should not be used for exploitation and, therefore, special rights have been declared for their protection.
In Ukraine, dolphinariums have been banned and a rehabilitation center has been created for all dolphins that were in captivity and have gained their freedom. This is an effort to ensure their survival.
The first country to take the firm decision to ban dolphinariums was Costa Rica. It was joined by Brazil, the United States, Israel, England, among others. This measure seeks to dignify and save the life of a unique species that has shown clear signs of possessing supernatural intelligence.
