Some facts about our Dolphins.

In todays post I have compiled some dolphin facts. With back to school near we need to start to get our brains back into gear. Today lets learn about the care of our dolphins




Did you Know


Did you know

• Dolphin cove has an internationally recognized animal care program?
  
• Each dolphin participates in husbandry behaviours each day?
  
• The health of every dolphin is closely monitored by a team of veterinarians?
  
• All the dolphins at Dolphin Cove were either born here or come from Oceanariums in Mexico or Cuba?
  
• All our dolphins have CITES permits?
  
• Dolphin Cove has a very successful rescue and reproduction program
  

Members of this species adapt to and do well in the captive environment. They live long and healthy lives (on average, longer than in the wild) and have a high reproduction rate. They are playful animals, exhibiting a natural curiosity. Strong bonds are formed with their human counterparts. There is much that goes on in the life of the dolphin that we will never see or that is difficult to see in the wild. A controversial topic is holding dolphins in captivity. A recent Harris poll has shown that over 95% of the people polled feel that properly maintained and run marine mammal parks provide a heightened appreciation for and understanding of these animals and add to the efforts in their conservation as a species. With 126 million visitors to dolphin habitats each year, the opportunity to teach appreciation for and conservation of the dolphin is tremendous.

A study of Atlantic Bottle nose Dolphin life span in the wild carried out by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums has shown that there is 30% mortality in their first 12 months due to maternal abandonment, pollution, predation, boat strikes, entanglement in fishing equipment, capture for human consumption, and disease. In the wild, the average life span of the Bottle-nose one year or older is an average of 25 years. In captivity, Bottle nose dolphins live an average of 30-35 years, having veterinary care, non-polluted water, no predation, no boat strikes, quality controlled food, no fishing equipment in which to become entangled, and careful observation and support of the birthing and mothering processes. In a survey taken in 1983, 32% of all dolphins being held in captivity had been born at a captive habitat.