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sarahmagoo t1_it79sqi wrote

Hot take: training marine mammals with positive reinforcement for shows is enriching and beneficial for the animal.

Zoos train animals all the time for husbandry reasons (step on scales, enter crate etc), the only difference between that training and training a dolphin to jump for a show is that one is entertaining to guests and one isn't.

This study suggests that shows are not stressful to dolphins.

> Any behavioral change that may be regarded as anticipatory behavior was not evidently abnormal or stereotypic in nature, and breathing rates remained stable indicating that the animals do not perceive the shows as stressful or as an aversive experience. Additionally, behavior and level of activity remained stable following the sessions.

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bourbonandcustard t1_it7fkpt wrote

Ok but they could just not keep them in captivity in the first place.

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sarahmagoo t1_it7g1nf wrote

Well the fact is they ARE in captivity and banning shows achieves nothing for the animals other than making people feel good.

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AMeanCow t1_it88f6e wrote

You're poorly educated on this topic and trying to argue for enslaving sapient creatures for human entertainment. It's not a good look.

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scattingcougar t1_it81q6p wrote

Do you not think banning shows would negate the need for keeping them in captivity?

Of course there are already lots kept in captivity, but banning shows would significantly reduce (if not eliminate) the need for this.

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cutezie t1_itagt5z wrote

> banning shows achieves nothing for the animals other than making people feel good.

Wait... are you against this because you think it's "cancel culture"? You think people are only doing this because of some kind of performative display of virtue?

If so, that's horrific and you probably need to reexamine how much propaganda you're swallowing. We're talking about intelligent creatures here, every study in the world has shown conclusively that captive conditions radically reduce the lifespans and emotional health of dolphins and whales. This isn't a partisan social issue, it's literally the moral advancement of our species.

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AMeanCow t1_it87sp0 wrote

>training marine mammals with positive reinforcement for shows is enriching and beneficial for the animal

This isn't a hot take, it's a bad and dumb take.

The study says that they get excited for rewards in an environment that they've become comfortable in, that does NOT equate to longer and healthier lives, and will only apply in captive situations where the animals are well maintained and cared for - this is NOT the average in the many thousands of marine mammal shows across the world. And this study is specifically looking at if performing in shows is stressful, not their overall quality of life.

Yes, someone can be happy and comfortable in captivity if someone is given enough stimulation and activities and rewards. Doesn't make it "Not prison" only that the conditions can be made to be acceptable during certain activities.

>"The average survival time in captivity for all bottlenose dolphin individuals who lived more than one year is 12 years, 9 months and 8 days – much lower than the wild where they live to between 30 and 50 years."

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