Scots holidaymakers are being urged to swerve “cruel” tourist attractions where marine mammals like whales and dolphins are forced to perform tricks for entertainment. With many eyeing up winter sun trips or planning their summer hols, the wildlife charity Born Free is calling on Scots tourists to help end global animal exploitation this year by not buying tickets for these types of events.
More than 3600 whales, dolphins, and porpoises – known as cetaceans – are held in captivity for human entertainment around the world. Campaigners say these complex, highly intelligent creatures are kept in restrictive, barren, chemically-treated pools and over-crowded tanks, or trapped in shallow sea pens, then made to perform repetitive tricks and display unnatural behaviours in front of crowds of tourists multiple times a day.
In comparison, when living free in the wild, the marine creatures live in closely-bonded family groups, often swimming more than 100 miles a day and diving to depths of 300 metres. Born Free is urging the public not to visit marine parks, dolphinariums, or buy tickets to swim with marine mammals, all of which they say fund cruel animal exploitation.
Charity co-founder Dame Virginia McKenna said: “Dolphins, whales and porpoises are magical, mysterious creatures, intelligent and perceptive. Yet we keep them cooped up in shallow, concrete tanks, in water treated with harsh chemicals, which irritate their eyes and sensitive skin.
“We force them to perform stupid, unnatural tricks, and interact with people. And this is meant to be ‘entertainment?’”
It’s calling for a “tank-free future” where the use of captive cetaceans for entertainment is phased out. That includes swimming-with-dolphins tourist experiences or making them pose props for souvenir photos and selfies.
Born Free says the harms caused to dolphins, whales and porpoises by captivity include premature death and reduced resistance to disease, high infant mortality, skin irritation problems and psychological stress. Thanks to the work of campaigners, the UK has been free of captive cetaceans since the 1990s – but more than 300 remain in captivity in Europe, with around a third found in Spain.
Two months ago, former SeaWorld orca Keto became the fourth whale to die prematurely at Loro Parque, a large zoo and marine park in Tenerife. Keto’s heart-breaking story of exploitation became known around the world after a tragic 2009 incident when he killed his trainer.
Sarah Jefferson of Born Free said, “We’re calling on the public not to support the suffering of captive cetaceans on their holidays. Whales and dolphins in captivity face a miserable existence in barren tanks and sea-pens, forced to interact with humans – in stark contrast to the rich and complex lives they live in the wild.
“Born Free’s ‘Tank-Free’ campaign urges holidaymakers to avoid booking any captive cetacean activities, and to voice their concerns to travel companies which profit from animal suffering. If people see a travel operator, hotel, or business advertising captive whale and dolphin facilities or activities, speak out – let them know how you feel.”
Dr Mark Jones, the charity’s policy chief added: “Keeping dolphins and other marine mammals in captivity, and forcing them to perform unnatural tricks and interactions with tourists, seriously compromises their welfare, while serving no useful conservation or education purpose. By continuing to promote visits to captive dolphin venues to their customers, certain travel companies are complicit in the suffering of these highly-intelligent and social animals for the sake of entertainment and profit.”
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