Quantitative Behavioral Study of Bottlenose Dolphins in Swim‐with‐dolphin Programs in the United States

Abstract

The behavior of dolphins in four Swim-With-Dolphin programs was compared by type of Swim encounter, defined by the presence ("Controlled") or absence ("Not-Controlled' ') of explicit trainer reguiarion of interactions between dolphins and human swimmers. Dolphin-swimmer interactions involving aggressive, submissive, or sexual behavior were designated as "high-risk" in the Swim context; sexual behavior was included as high-risk based on analyses that demonstrated co-occurrence of sexual and agonistic behaviors. High-risk activity comprised a substantial proportion of dolphin-swimmer social activity during Not-Controlled Swims,. In contrast, high-risk activity rarely occurred during Controlled Swims, even though agonistic and sexual behaviors were normal components of the same dolphins' free-time social repertoire. These results indicated that direct trainer control of dolphin-swimmer interactions virtually eliminated high-risk activity from the Swim context, and thereby diminished the potential for dolphin distress, swimmer injury, and rejection of dolphins from Swim programs due to swimmer injury. This study illustrates effective use of quantitative behavioral sampling techniques for evaluation of captive management concerns and promotes broader use of these techniques for a better understanding of cetacean behavior.

Emerging infectious diseases in cetaceans worldwide and the possible role of environmental stressors

“…As for brucellosis, additional cases may remain undiagnosed in South and Central American countries. Close contact with infected dolphins may be risky and precautionary restrictions should apply with regard to programmes that allow thousands of tourists of unknown immunological status to swim with dolphins (Samuels & Spradling 1995). Till recently, the distribution and epidemiology of lobomycosis in humans and dontocetes seemed to be unconnected, affecting mostly humans inhabiting the Amazon basin and inshore and estuarine dolphins from the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic coast (Van Bressem et al 2007b).…”

The use of area–time closures as a tool to manage cetacean-watch tourism

“…Some tour operators offer swim-with-cetacean activities (Samuels & Spradlin, 1995;Bejder et al, 1999;Constantine, 2001;Courbis, 2007;Kessler & Harcourt, 2010). Methods used to place swim-with customers in the path of wild cetacean groups alters their long-term behaviour (Constantine, 2001); e.g.…”

Swimming with captive dolphins: current debates and post‐experience dissonance

“…Other literature, however, (Kirtland and Stringer 1995;Samuels and Spradlin 1995;DeMaster 1995a and1995b;Zilber 1998;Kyngdon et al 2003) suggests that the welfare of the dolphin in captivity is not compromised and that the debate against captivity is laden with emotional overtones.…”

“…In addition, two behavioural studies have been conducted. Samuels and Spradlin (1995) who observed behaviour of dolphins in a trainer-controlled environment with a view to the safety of dolphin-interaction programmes. Kyngdon et al (2003) investigated behavioural changes exhibited by captive dolphins before, during and after public swims that were not conducted under trainer control.…”