Since 1986____________________________________________info@dolphinwatch.org
Our Mission
We realize that many people’s experience with dolphins is limited
to aquariums and captive situations where not much is mentioned about
their lives in the wild. Because of the public’s limited exposure
to wild dolphins, we find that overall there is a somewhat warped idea
of what dolphins are really like. In order to fully understand dolphins
and their true nature, we must go to them in the wild, not bring them
to us.
On Dolphin Watch you will see the true essence of dolphins and walk away
with a new found respect for these intelligent mammals who share our planet
so harmoniously. You will not see dolphins in chain link enclosures or
concrete pools towing people on their dorsal fins or waiting at attention
with their mouths open to receive dead fish from a bucket. You will see
dolphins who have the freedom to do as they wish, choosing their mates
and companions, deciding which type of fish they would like to hunt for
and eat, and traveling an average of forty miles a day through the diverse
shallows and depths of the open sea.
Dolphins have evolved over hundreds of millions of years to live and travel
in the open ocean, establish fluid and complex relationships with their
pod mates and opportunistically forage and feed on live fish. To hold
them captive and take this away from them is a crime of nature and separates
them from their true nature. When one sees captive dolphins jumping, ‘smiling’
and obeying their trainers’ commands, it is easy to fool yourself
and believe that this is acceptable. The truth of the matter is that it
is totally dishonest, it is a mis-education. The audience is never told
that they are watching deprived, stressed animals who are living totally
artificial lives so that they can witness a completely unnatural misrepresentation
of dolphin behavior.
Dolphin Watch believes in teaching people about dolphins in a more positive
way, out in the wild, where they are not suffering needlessly for the
sake of our casual entertainment. The dolphins we visit do not have to
compromise their freedom or give up their way of life to be with us. Instead,
we approach the dolphins with patience and respect and allow them to call
the shots. We watch all their natural behaviors, which are even more exciting
to see in the wild, from a respectable distance. Dolphins are spontaneous,
graceful, joyful, powerful, fun-loving creatures. They are curious, intelligent,
and complex. All of these traits are magnified when you are able to witness
them in their natural element. Coming face to face with a wild dolphin
is perhaps one of the most beautiful experiences our planet has to offer.
We sincerely hope that you will choose to see and learn about them as
they were meant to be– in their open ocean home!
David Wills, Vice President of investigations for The Humane Society of
the United States, swam with dolphins in one of the captive swim with
dolphins programs. He wrote:
‘The swim
was a highlight in my life; one that left me charmed, in love and paradoxically
saddened. For the single inescapable fact of that wonderful time was that
while I was free to swim with the dolphins, they were not free to swim
with me...willing perhaps, but not free. And that is the moral issue that
condemns all captive dolphin swim programs. No arguments can justify the
forced confinement of these unique and complex individuals. Their lives
without their freedom is a sad and prolonged slavery, no matter how velvet
the chains nor how kind the jailer. Someday, I would like to swim with
dolphins again, but it would have to be with their consent – consent
given freely to swim with me in the open freedom of their natural environment;
on their terms, not just mine.’ ~from Into The Blue by
Virginia McKenna
Dolphin
Watch - Key West's Original Dolphin Tour
- Toll Free 866 4 DOLPHIN (866 436 5744) - email:
info@dolphinwatch.org
Copyright © 2000-2004
Dolphin Watch, Inc. All rights reserved.
Photographs not to be used without permission. Photos: Capt. Alma Armendariz
- not to be used without permission.