There are four dolphin species and four families that are grouped together as the true river dolphins. There’s a reason, of course, that these fascinating mammals have such broad appeal. A live bottlenose dolphin is estimated to be worth between a few thousand to several tens of thousands of US dollars, depending on age, condition and prior training. Common dolphins are indeed common, with population estimates exceeding four million. Unlike many dolphins, the rough-toothed species does not have a noticeable forehead, or melon—seriously, that’s the scientific term. [2] Though animal welfare is perceived to have improved significantly over the last few decades, many animal rights groups still consider keeping dolphins captive to be a form of animal abuse. There may be fewer than 1,000 of these Asian freshwater dolphins left. In 1966, the first dolphin was exported to Europe. While trade in dolphins is internationally regulated, other aspects of keeping dolphins in captivity, such as the minimum size and characteristics of pools, vary among countries. Captures are reported to be on the rise in the South Pacific and the Caribbean,[9] Cuba has also been an exporter of dolphins in recent years, this being organized by the Acuario Nacional de Cuba. Species considered not to be threatened with extinction are included in Appendix II, in which case trade "must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival".
“The chances for that are likely slim, as there is currently no evidence of any increase in common dolphin abundance or sightings anywhere in the Mediterranean Sea. Strangely, they exist in only two areas…the southern tip of South America and around one small area of islands in the Indian Ocean. Hector’s dolphins are a threatened species and their close relatives, the Maui dolphin, also found in New Zealand, is on the critically endangered list. Commerson’s dolphins are basically aquatic pandas. Barnum's ill-fated display of white whales in his New York Museum in 1860, it was not until 1913 that cetaceans were again seen in captivity, this time when C. H. Townsend, curator of the New York Aquarium, stumbled upon the idea exhibiting dolphins as an unbeatable novelty to attract the crowds. Let the cute factor work its magic and sponge down the ol’ grey matter with a little dopamine…. As the game took shape with other dolphins joining in the act, it began to resemble the repertoire seen today in every dolphinarium in the world. [16] This does not, however, reflect a global state of affairs: for example, bottlenose dolphins in captive facilities in Jamaica suffer from extremely high mortality rates. In most Western countries, breeding programs have been set up to provide the dolphinariums with new animals. However, live dolphins trade still continues. While trade in dolphins is internationally regulated, other aspects of keeping dolphins in captivity, such as the minimum size and characteristics of pools, vary among countries. Other species kept in captivity are spotted dolphins, Gray whales, false killer whales, pilot whales and common dolphins, Commerson's dolphins, as well as rough-toothed dolphins, but all in much lower numbers than the bottlenose dolphin. [2] Its grey hide, which lightens as it ages, is usually covered with scars from other dolphins, from squid, its favorite prey, and from cookiecutter sharks, a tiny species that slices chunks of flesh from larger animals. (Some taxonomists believe there is a third species as well.) The Associated Press / International Herald Tribune. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Many animal welfare groups such as the World Animal Protection consider keeping dolphins in captivity to be a form of animal abuse. The research, conducted through photo-identification, also shows that some of the dolphins spotted in the Adriatic Sea had traveled as far as 1,000 kilometers. Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn. It is often seen frolicking with a smaller species of freshwater dolphin. There are a few species, however, like the South Asian river dolphin and the Amazon river dolphin, or boto, that live in freshwater streams and rivers. The use of AI also allows dolphinariums to increase the genetic diversity of their population without having to bring in any dolphins from other facilities. The dolphins are usually kept in a large pool, though occasionally they may be kept in pens in the open sea, either for research or for public performances. A prominent example is the United Kingdom; in the early 1970s there were at least 36 dolphinariums and traveling dolphin shows, however, the last dolphinarium closed its doors in 1993. Presented at the 2007 meeting of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. The Amazon river dolphin, one of six species of dolphin to inhabit fresh water, defies the standard of streamlined beauty that defines its relatives, at least at first blush. [27], Legal bans or restrictions relating to keeping cetaceans in captivity, "Following P.T. This is the species supposedly protected in the harvesting of “dolphin-safe” tuna. The water in the pools has to be constantly filtered to keep it clean for the dolphins and the spectators, and the temperature and composition of the water has to be controlled to match the conditions dolphins experience in the wild. The most common species of dolphin kept in dolphinariums is the bottlenose dolphin, as it is relatively easy to train and has a long lifespan in captivity.
“The chances for that are likely slim, as there is currently no evidence of any increase in common dolphin abundance or sightings anywhere in the Mediterranean Sea. Strangely, they exist in only two areas…the southern tip of South America and around one small area of islands in the Indian Ocean. Hector’s dolphins are a threatened species and their close relatives, the Maui dolphin, also found in New Zealand, is on the critically endangered list. Commerson’s dolphins are basically aquatic pandas. Barnum's ill-fated display of white whales in his New York Museum in 1860, it was not until 1913 that cetaceans were again seen in captivity, this time when C. H. Townsend, curator of the New York Aquarium, stumbled upon the idea exhibiting dolphins as an unbeatable novelty to attract the crowds. Let the cute factor work its magic and sponge down the ol’ grey matter with a little dopamine…. As the game took shape with other dolphins joining in the act, it began to resemble the repertoire seen today in every dolphinarium in the world. [16] This does not, however, reflect a global state of affairs: for example, bottlenose dolphins in captive facilities in Jamaica suffer from extremely high mortality rates. In most Western countries, breeding programs have been set up to provide the dolphinariums with new animals. However, live dolphins trade still continues. While trade in dolphins is internationally regulated, other aspects of keeping dolphins in captivity, such as the minimum size and characteristics of pools, vary among countries. Other species kept in captivity are spotted dolphins, Gray whales, false killer whales, pilot whales and common dolphins, Commerson's dolphins, as well as rough-toothed dolphins, but all in much lower numbers than the bottlenose dolphin. [2] Its grey hide, which lightens as it ages, is usually covered with scars from other dolphins, from squid, its favorite prey, and from cookiecutter sharks, a tiny species that slices chunks of flesh from larger animals. (Some taxonomists believe there is a third species as well.) The Associated Press / International Herald Tribune. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Many animal welfare groups such as the World Animal Protection consider keeping dolphins in captivity to be a form of animal abuse. The research, conducted through photo-identification, also shows that some of the dolphins spotted in the Adriatic Sea had traveled as far as 1,000 kilometers. Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn. It is often seen frolicking with a smaller species of freshwater dolphin. There are a few species, however, like the South Asian river dolphin and the Amazon river dolphin, or boto, that live in freshwater streams and rivers. The use of AI also allows dolphinariums to increase the genetic diversity of their population without having to bring in any dolphins from other facilities. The dolphins are usually kept in a large pool, though occasionally they may be kept in pens in the open sea, either for research or for public performances. A prominent example is the United Kingdom; in the early 1970s there were at least 36 dolphinariums and traveling dolphin shows, however, the last dolphinarium closed its doors in 1993. Presented at the 2007 meeting of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. The Amazon river dolphin, one of six species of dolphin to inhabit fresh water, defies the standard of streamlined beauty that defines its relatives, at least at first blush. [27], Legal bans or restrictions relating to keeping cetaceans in captivity, "Following P.T. This is the species supposedly protected in the harvesting of “dolphin-safe” tuna. The water in the pools has to be constantly filtered to keep it clean for the dolphins and the spectators, and the temperature and composition of the water has to be controlled to match the conditions dolphins experience in the wild. The most common species of dolphin kept in dolphinariums is the bottlenose dolphin, as it is relatively easy to train and has a long lifespan in captivity.