Public gives thumbs down to marine park shows

A survey of 2,050 people indicates that watching dolphins and killer whales perform tricks in small tanks is no longer on the travel bucket list of the average British tourist. The poll was carried out by Censuswide on behalf of the leading ethical travel company, responsibletravel.com, and the international wildlife charity, the Born Free Foundation.

Growing public awareness of the ethical issues and physical implications of keeping dolphins and whales in captivity is changing public opinion. More than 85 percent people surveyed said they would not wish to visit a marine park to see whales and dolphins as part of an overseas holiday.

Will Travers OBE, President of the Born Free Foundation, said: ‘Are the days of the dolphinarium over?  It seems clear that when presented with the information on which to make an informed decision, British travellers have had enough.  It is time to bring the curtain down on the exploitation of whales and dolphins in captivity – just like the exploitation of wild animals in travelling circuses.

‘There are no longer any captive dolphins in the UK, and I hope that the result of this survey will hasten the day when there are no captive dolphins kept for public entertainment anywhere in the world.’ 

                                   

More than 2,000 dolphins, 227 beluga whales, 52 killer whales, 37 porpoises and 17 false killer whales (collectively referred to as cetaceans) are held in 343 captive dolphin facilities in 63 countries across the world.

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