For those who are 'anti-captivity' - Dolphin Tale (2011) Discussion

[–] sithlord70 11 years ago

Winter was put in captivity to save her life. I think most people are fine if an animal is brought into captivity to rehabilitate it as long as it will be released it back into the wild when it is healthy.

In Winters case her disability is such that she can no longer live in the wild and needs the company of humans to take care if her for the rest of her life. So allowing her to live her life out in captivity while being well treated is justified. This is the case with many animals that are rescued from the wild for health reasons.

However having healthy animals in captivity simply so humans can study them or treat them like circus performers is what anti-captivity people have issue with.

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[–] GSmith9072 11 years ago

Did you read the article? That was my point. Unless you think Winter is suffering, you are acknowledging that captivity can't be but so bad if it is OK for Winter to live that way. I understand that people want them out of captivity at any means possible, but I simply don't care. I'm not an animal rightsist, I'm an animal welfarist. The thing that I'm examining is whether or not the animal is living a miserable existence. You may think the dolphin has the 'right' to not be caught by humans, but I find that to be a ridiculous position. Where does it end? I can assure you that cows don't have any interest in being eaten. This isn't about making sure that animals get what they 'want'. We have the right to have zoos despite your preferred ideology. As long as the animals are being cared for you won't convince me that it's wrong.

BUGS

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] GSmith9072 11 years ago

but really are we just putting our emotions first?

I think that's exactly what you are doing. I honestly can't see how any intelligent person would be against keeping all pets. Why? It's so extremist. If an animal is born in captivity or used to it, that will become 'normal' to them. It sounds like you are projecting ideological feelings into this situation.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] GSmith9072 11 years ago

I don't think any animal would 'choose' to live with us, but then again, I don't think most, if not any animals are capable of 'choosing' something because they can't think like us, and weigh the cons/benefits of situations. Animals are just going to go with their instincts. A bobcat with a broken leg wouldn't run away from people because it chooses to not receive vet care from a human, it's just programmed to. Animals can adapt. Keeping pets isn't always for the benefit to the animal but if it will make me happy, I'm going to do it as long as it is a reasonable existence for the animal. I don't think it is a moral crime to benefit from having pets at the expense of some lack of ideal for an animal.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] GSmith9072 11 years ago

Totally true. This goes for any animal, and human children as well. I doubt licenses will insure this won't happen also. I'm afraid that this is a part of life, like you've said. Without our human influence, nature is still cruel.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Internal_Sunshine 11 years ago

Animals are almost never better off in captivity, unless the captive environment is one as similar as possible to their natural one (for example, a safari park, not a zoo). Animals facing the dangers of the wild is natural and it's all the circle of life.

I DO take issue with Winter being in captivity, and so do most other people who are truly anti-captivity. She is currently held in a small pool and I believe in isolation too. This is damaging for her physical and mentally because a small pool full of chemicals makes her more susceptible to illnesses.. and as dolphins are more sociable than humans, one can imagine how it must feel for her to be in isolation. Dolphins have sensitive hearing and she's surrounded by blaring music and people all day.

When people say they are against her being in captivity they are not 'liberate the animals long haired hippy types', most understand she can *probably* not be released into the ocean again which is a huge shame. BUT...If she was rehabilitated into a sea pen and NOT exploited for a stupid film, she would be a happier animal and the human race could have an ever so slightly lighter conscience.

~*~

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[–] DazeYaVoo 11 years ago

I DO take issue with Winter being in captivity, and so do most other people who are truly anti-captivity.

While I am anti-captivity, it's not a blanket policy for me. I see no need for marine parks to go out and trap dolphins for dolphin shows. But Clearwater Marine Aquarium (more aptly named in the movie as a marine "hospital") does not do this. It Rescues, Rehabilitates and Releases marine critters, when they can be safely released back into the wild.

Please don't acquire all your information from an entertainment movie and then start or a documentary like The Cove. Ask someone who's involved (like I was) with the real places. (And no, I'm not going to lie about things. I was a volunteer. I've got no reason to lie -- what do I have to gain? It's a non-profit facility.)

She is currently held in a small pool and I believe in isolation too. This is damaging for her physical and mentally because a small pool full of chemicals makes her more susceptible to illnesses.. and as dolphins are more sociable than humans, one can imagine how it must feel for her to be in isolation.

Depends on your definition of "small." It's certainly smaller than CMA would like, but then this "aquarium" is a charitable institution that exists for the animals, not the public.

She is NOT kept in isolation. Her pool partner was, until recently, Panama, an older female dolphin ... a surrogate parent for Winter. Panama died a couple of months ago (and no, not from captivity. She had been there for years and was very old for a dolphin. She was also deaf, hence her residency instead of being freed after rehabilitation).

The pool is not "full of chemicals." What are you imagining, some 20x15x6 foot pool behind someone's house? Seriously? All of the huge pools in which the dolphins and sea turtles are kept are filled with sea water pumped in from the adjacent Clearwater harbor. The water is tested four times daily to make sure it maintains normal salinity and a host of other standards. There's a lab just for the water testing.

Dolphins have sensitive hearing and she's surrounded by blaring music and people all day.

Have you been to the real CMA or are you again stating views based on a fictionalized motion picture? The facility is open to the public 8 hours a day. The other 16 hours of every day is like being in a large, silent marine cathedral. All areas are not always open. If a resident animal is having a bad day, appears to have a problem of some kind, or whatever, then they are off-limits to the public. The animals come first.

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[–] beyondtbm0914 8 years ago

I watched Blackfish when it was on TV in 2013. I just watched Dolphin Tale. Totally different stories. Totally different enviornments. I live near Clearwater. I wouldn't go to Seaworld. I would go to see Winter and CMA.

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