What is the required amount of space for a captive dolphin to be happy? How big are the tanks that they live in when they are not doing shows?
The answer to this question is simple – any tank or enclosure is too small for a dolphin. According to US regulations, dolphin pens only need to be 30 x 30 feet and only six feet deep. With the current US standards, a dolphin would have to circle its pen more than 1,700 times everyday to simulate its natural swimming range in the wild! In warm weather such shallow water heats quickly. This can be extremely uncomfortable, and often deadly, for dolphins unable to escape to deeper, cooler waters. Not only is there no relief from the heat, but also the dolphin’s sensitive skin can be exposed to the sun’s scorching rays, causing blisters and sores. Also, in cement pools, chlorine is added to keep bacteria levels safe for humans. The levels of chlorine used, wreak havoc on a dolphin’s skin and eyes, sometimes even rendering them completely blind. Just because standards exist, doesn’t mean that they’re appropriate, well enforced, or they ensure an acceptable quality of life for the dolphins.
