27.04.2024 – Free as the wind

It wasn’t easy weather conditions when we left the harbour this morning. But our spotter, in full concentration, found Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for us. This dolphin species is probably one of the best-known marine mammals. Unfortunately, this is due to the fact that they are often kept in captivity.

However, dolphins, the gentle sea creatures, do not belong locked up in dolphinaria. These fascinating creatures are highly intelligent and social beings. They have a complex understanding of their natural environment, the ocean. In the dolphinarium they cannot experience anywhere near the natural living conditions they need. In the wild, dolphins travel great distances. They interact with other members of their group and use their highly developed brains to maintain complex social structures. In the dolphinarium, they are reduced to a confined pool. This leads to physical and psychological stress. The confined spaces and chlorinated water in dolphinaria lead to health problems such as skin diseases and respiratory infections.

Since they cannot experience the stimulation and challenges of life in the ocean, they suffer from boredom and depression. The training of dolphins for entertainment purposes is ethically questionable. They are forced to perform tricks. Food deprivation is used as motivation to get them to do what the trainer wants them to do. This undermines their natural behaviour and their dignity as living beings. The continuing demand for dolphinaria contributes to the practice of capturing wild dolphins, which is cruel and inhumane. Families are torn apart, which is emotionally stressful for the animals. It also threatens their populations in the wild.

There are definitely better ways to study and protect dolphins without keeping them in captivity. Researchers can observe them in their natural habitat and collect data. This is a much more reality-based way to understand their way of life and develop effective conservation measures. Dolphins deserve respect and freedom. They are not entertainment attractions, but complex creatures that should remain in their natural environment. Instead, we should focus on protecting the oceans to ensure that dolphins and other marine life can live in their natural habitat. Because dolphins are as free as the wind.

At midday we set off again on a choppy sea. The spotter had discovered a whale off our coast, but despite an intensive search we unfortunately didn’t find it.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins

13:30 no sighting