Captivity or Freedom?

For Captivity

It is easier for people to see dolphins.

Dolphin shows are interesting and exciting.

Dolphinariums can teach people about dolphins and how they live.

Seeing dolphins can make you care about them and their environment.

It is easier to study a dolphin in a pool than one in the sea.

Dolphins face lots of dangers in the sea.

Dolphin shows create jobs for people and money for the owners.

For Freedom

Seeing an animal in its natural habitat is very interesting and exciting and worth making an effort for.

You can learn about dolphins and their habitat from books, video and CDROM.

Dolphins often die shortly after capture, live shorter lives in captivity and suffer from stress and the chemicals in the pool.

We learn a lot more about dolphins and their lives from studying them in the sea.

Dolphins often can’t use their sonar in pools and are cut off from normal family life.

Dolphin watching trips create jobs.

You are on a holiday abroad. You are just about to go in to a Fun Park where there are rides and a dolphin show. There is a small group of people outside waving banners which say “Free the Dolphins” and “Dolphins belong in the sea, not tanks.” The owner of the Fun Park is arguing with the demonstrators.

What do you think the protesters are saying?

What will the owner say?

What do you think about it?

How do you think the dolphins might feel about it? (Is this important?)

Will you go to see the dolphins, just go on the rides or not go in at all?

More ideas! You could write the conversation between the protesters and the owner. (You could even turn it into a play!) Perhaps you would like to design a poster or an information leaflet for either the owner of the dolphinarium or the protesters.

International Dolphin Watch 10 Melton Road, North Ferriby, E.Yorks HU14 3ET. England.
Tel: +44 (0)1482 632650 Fax: +44 (0)1482 634914 E-mail: idw@talk21.com