Points to note when writing in opposition to the planned Dolphin Centre, Phuket:

Vulnerable people who may try anything to cure themselves or their relatives are targeted by these centres. The "therapy" may cost up to US$8000 for 10 days but there will be no follow up apart from perhaps a self-assessment. This "therapy" has not been proved to be any more effective than petting domestic animals such as dogs.

It was mentioned that dolphins destined for the Phuket Dolphin Centre would "come from those found stranded on beaches and willing to interact with humans".

Just because there are rare dolphins who come in from the open ocean and will interact with humans does not mean they would fare well in the limiting conditions of a tank. In the wild these animals have the choice to swim away from humans into the open ocean - an animal in a captive facility has no choice.

Similarly, taking a beached dolphin would be an animal removed from its wild habitat.
· These vulnerable animals should be rehabilitated and returned to the wild, not preyed upon by captive dolphin facilities as a way to make an easy Buck from a dolphin which they didn't have to pay for.
· Ordinarily, captive facilities would pay up to $100,000 for a dolphin so this seems a rather convenient way of portraying the idea the dolphin is being rescued when in fact it is being subjected to a life of restriction for the profit of the facility owner.
· In fact, these animals will often beach for reasons such as illness or injury and to put these animals in with vulnerable people seems to be a great risk to both parties.

· Public knowledge of captive dolphin facilities and their damaging impact is growing. Today, tourists are keen to visit areas which have ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly roots.

· It is possible to see dolphins off the coast of Thailand in their beautiful and natural habitat. Viewing dolphins, even close-up in an unnaturally confined space, trained to interact and reduced to be totally reliant on humans, cannot be compared to seeing wild dolphins in pods - potentially numbering hundreds of animals, exhibiting their natural and adapted behaviour in the open ocean. Wild dolphins can be seen in so many coastal regions, including Thailand.

Please also see our advice sheets on swimming-with captive dolphins and dolphin-assisted therapy.

Please do not simply cut and paste the information provided by the Marine Connection.