Dolphins performing at Sea World, Australia - World Animal Protection

Dolphins in captivity endure seven stages of suffering in their tragic lives

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Over 3,000 dolphins are currently trapped in cruel captive conditions at tourist entertainment venues around the world. They can live for over 50 years in a deeply miserable cycle of suffering, all to profit the multibillion-dollar dolphin tourism industry

Behind every captive dolphin’s smile is trauma. We’re looking forward to a future where we can travel again, but as tourism returns the cruelty must not.

We are calling on the tourism industry to revise their wildlife policies and stop offering exploitative experiences to their customers once and for all. Join us by avoiding activities that force dolphins and other animals to perform for entertainment.

Together we can move the tourism industry to become animal-friendly!

Stage one

Most dolphins in the tourism industry are bred in captivity, instantly born into a long life of constant misery just so the travel industry and individuals can make a profit.

7 stages of dolphin suffering - World Animal Protection

Stage two

Dolphin calves are separated from their mothers at a very young age which is distressing and traumatising for both mother and baby.

7 stages of dolphin suffering - World Animal Protection

Stage three

Captive dolphins are kept in permanent tanks 200,000 times smaller than their home range in the wild.

7 stages of dolphin suffering - World Animal Protection

Stage four

The smooth, featureless tanks dolphins are confined in give them no mental stimulation, no way to act out their natural behaviours and no place to retreat from staring tourists.

7 stages of dolphin suffering - World Animal Protection

Stage five

Dolphins are deprived of food as a training method, meaning they’re left with little choice but to perform for frozen dead fish.

7 stages of dolphin suffering - World Animal Protection

Stage six

Many captive dolphins grind their teeth down, bob their heads, and swim in circles due to the unnatural, stressful captive conditions.

7 stages of dolphin suffering - World Animal Protection

Stage seven

Captive dolphins can live for over 50 years, repeating a cruel cycle of frustration, stress and misery for decades until their tragic lives end.

7 stages of dolphin suffering - World Animal Protection

Help us end the suffering and support a dolphin friendly future where dolphins are living wild and free as they should be.

Don’t participate in swim with dolphin activities when it’s safe to travel again, and share this post to your stories on Instagram to spread the word to your family and friends!

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Further reading

Despite what some people think, dolphins don’t communicate by smiling when they are happy. The ‘smile’ on their face is simply their jaw shape.

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