A dolphin park is under fire for forcing dolphins to perform ‘humiliating tricks’ and live their lives out in small, chlorinated pools – but experts inside the centre claim the animals are healthy and their shows help keep them mentally sound.
Dolphin Magic in Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid-north coast offers the all-inclusive seal and dolphin experience – sealed with a kiss from the main attractions.
But Ben Pearson from World Animal Protection is concerned by the centre’s operation labelling it an extremely cruel’ marine park, calling for the dolphins to be relieved from performing daily tricks.
Two of the park’s dolphins before the morning show – which has been labelled by some organisations as cruel
The park, where every guest has an opportunity to be kissed by a dolphin or seal is in Coffs Harbour, NSW
The dolphins are encouraged to do tricks for the crowd – including ‘surfing on a yoga ball’ much to the crowd’s delight
‘These are wild animals that are being forced to do these shows, they are made to swim with people on their backs, hug them and kiss them which is really demeaning for these very intelligent animals,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
On a recent visit to the park, which has 11 seals and five dolphins, Daily Mail staff were offered different ‘in water experiences’ which have Mr Pearson and his colleagues worked up – but the on-site vet defended the practice.
‘One of the major problems that animals in captivity can face is boredom. Animals have evolved to be busy and do not cope well if they have nothing to do,’ Dr Duan March said.
‘To make sure that our dolphins weren’t stressed out by interacting with people, we studied their behaviour and blood cortisol levels before and after interactions and we found no evidence of stress.’
The interactions in the park concern some groups who fear touching the dolphins could be bad for them
The park also has some turtles, like this one, which they will release back into the wild once healed
The two dolphins pictured here were born in captivity and will never see the open ocean
Mr Pearson is concerned about the size and depth of the dolphin pools at the popular tourist spot
Mr Pearson would like to see the end to these interactions – and the tricks to one day be stopped all together.
‘I think we would see a lot more problems if we removed all the structure and interactions from their day,’ Dr March said.
Mr Pearson is also concerned about the pools, which he says are roughly the size of a resort-style swimming pool, not being big enough for the dolphins.
‘They are extremely intelligent animals who dive 100s of metres below the surface and swim up to 100kms a day – having them in these pools is like keeping a human locked in a bathroom,’ Mr Pearson said.
‘They are extremely intelligent animals who dive 100s of metres below the surface and swim up to 100kms a day – having them in these pools is like keeping a human locked in a bathroom,’ Mr Pearson said
‘We would like to see Dolphin Magic investigate a sea sanctuary – to give their animals more space,’ Mr Pearson said
‘The pools that our animals live in are always going to be smaller and shallower than the ocean. What we are trying to do is provide an environment where these animals can safely exhibit normal behaviours and social interactions,’ Dr MArch the vet said
‘Three of their dolphins were born in captivity, the other two were caught a long time ago, when they were very young,’ he said.
‘We would like to see Dolphin Magic investigate a sea sanctuary – to give their animals more space.’
But The vet also disputed the space issue.
‘The pools that our animals live in are always going to be smaller and shallower than the ocean. What we are trying to do is provide an environment where these animals can safely exhibit normal behaviours and social interactions,’ he said.
The crowd cheered on as the seals and dolphins performed for them at the direction of their trainers
‘As for the depths and distances that dolphins swim, it is true, they can dive very deep and swim very far. But these animals are smart, so, given the choice, they typically inhabit shallow waters to avoid predators and only swim as far as they need to to find a meal,’ Dr March said
‘As for the depths and distances that dolphins swim, it is true, they can dive very deep and swim very far. But these animals are smart, so, given the choice, they typically inhabit shallow waters to avoid predators and only swim as far as they need to to find a meal.’
The crowd at the popular tourist attraction seemed excited to be able to touch the animals and lined up promptly for their ‘free kiss’.
As the dolphin jumped from the water in dramatic twists and turns the audience, mostly young families cheered and clapped.
A happy visitor from the park with two of the dolphins – receiving a ‘kiss’ before the show
A female seal sitting in front of its trainer during the show – after demonstrating how she ‘brushes her fur’
The popular tourist destination is also home to these little penguins who can escape crowds through a hole in the wall
Mr Pearson doesn’t blame the crowd for wanting to see the ‘beautiful animals’ and says they have ‘done nothing wrong by buying a ticket’.
‘We are trying to raise awareness about these venues and how cruel it is to have animals performing tricks and living in shallow tanks,’ he said.
‘I totally understand that when you come in and see them they seem happy and probably don’t look mistreated,’ he continued.
The vet, Dr March said happiness can’t be measured exactly – but the animals at the park are vet-checked daily and don’t ‘show behaviour of typical depression’.
Crowds reaching out to pat the dolphins after the show – the dolphins did a few ‘goodbye laps’ each
The pools at the marine park are chlorinated – not salt water like the animals’ natural habitats – this is to kill germs
‘Healthy is easier to answer because we can measure it. These animals have a more comprehensive health investigation regime than any other animals that I have worked with including daily physical exams and quarterly blood tests and the results show that they are in good health.’
The dolphins and seals live in chlorinated water, which is to keep them well, according to Dr March.
‘Everyday we pump in fresh water from the estuary that we are adjacent to and we supplement this we small amounts of chlorine, which acts as a disinfectant.’
The seal pool in the park had just one furry guest during Daily Mail Australia’s recent visit.
One of the smaller animals at the park – this little turtle lives with half a dozen others in a small pond
A painting of the ocean appears as the backdrop to the main dolphin pool – where the animals perform
The pool, looked about three metres across. The seal appeared to swim laps around the tank before sunning its self on a rock.
One thing Mr Pearson and Dr March agreed on is the park’s marine rescue program. A small tank behind the main dolphin stage contained two turtles with various injuries – being treated to go back into the wild.
The park has previously been the subject of controversy surrounding the size of their dolphin pools.
An advertisement was posted on the back of a bus in 2015 showing a dolphin stuck in a fish bowl and calling for the park to change its approach with the popular animals.
The seal performing for the crowd as part of the park’s dolphin and seal show in the morning
A dolphin shows how he balances a ball on his nose, using his sight rather than any sensory nerves
One of three pools the dolphins are kept in inside the public areas of the marine park