How old should a child be to swim with dolphins in Mexico?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: watch The Cove on Netflix or Apple TV; you'll get the real scoop on dolphins and how they're chosen for tanks around the world, ripped from the pod and family members. After the selection process, the rest of the pod is slaughtered, thus turning the cove red from their blood. Really, you should watch it and then decide if you want to condone dolphins in captivity.

+1. I can't believe this isn't mentioned more often. Do people really not know that this is how dolphin swim places get their dolphins?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: watch The Cove on Netflix or Apple TV; you'll get the real scoop on dolphins and how they're chosen for tanks around the world, ripped from the pod and family members. After the selection process, the rest of the pod is slaughtered, thus turning the cove red from their blood. Really, you should watch it and then decide if you want to condone dolphins in captivity.

+1. I can't believe this isn't mentioned more often. Do people really not know that this is how dolphin swim places get their dolphins?

Ugh. I actually swam with dolphins years ago during our honeymoon, and remember a coworker saying that it wasn't a good thing to do afterwards, but I don't recall her saying specifically why. Didn't realize this is how they get their dolphins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but if you don't like it, don't do it. OP I have done it and taken my kids and it was an amazing experience that they still talk about. Don't let people dissuade you. These same people probably have no issue going to a zoo or an aquarium.

First of all, some of these same people do have issues with zoos and aquariums.

Second of all, there are important differences between good zoos and aquariums and these horrible places that allow swimming with dolphins. This is a false equivalency. So glad your kids had a good time - but understand that this is a practice that will be going away. And one day you might be questioned by your children about why you encouraged them to participate in this kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but if you don't like it, don't do it. OP I have done it and taken my kids and it was an amazing experience that they still talk about. Don't let people dissuade you. These same people probably have no issue going to a zoo or an aquarium.

First of all, some of these same people do have issues with zoos and aquariums.

Second of all, there are important differences between good zoos and aquariums and these horrible places that allow swimming with dolphins. This is a false equivalency. So glad your kids had a good time - but understand that this is a practice that will be going away. And one day you might be questioned by your children about why you encouraged them to participate in this kind of thing.

And one day you might be questioned by your grandchildren as to why you ate the flesh of other animals once some vegan protein is developed in 20 years. In the grand scheme of things, swimming with a dolphin is pretty minor on the morality scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should be concerned about the plight of captured Dolphins and not support their continued maltreatment.

+1. People who think dolphins are so cute but who don't give a damn how they were captured and how they are treated are just amazing. Breathtaking.

+2. And it has nothing to do with eating animals. I eat meat too but I don't think any animal deserve that kind of treatment. And to take your kids? Disgusting.

So it's ok to slaughter an animal and eat its flesh, but not to train one in captivity?
Ok.

+1 I feel guilty when my son asks me why we're eating Wilbur from Charlotte's web. But swimming with a dolphin? Meh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: watch The Cove on Netflix or Apple TV; you'll get the real scoop on dolphins and how they're chosen for tanks around the world, ripped from the pod and family members. After the selection process, the rest of the pod is slaughtered, thus turning the cove red from their blood. Really, you should watch it and then decide if you want to condone dolphins in captivity.

+1. I can't believe this isn't mentioned more often. Do people really not know that this is how dolphin swim places get their dolphins?

Can I ask why they slaughter the rest of the pod? That part seems weird and unnecessary to me.
I'm a meat eater, but I can't understand why some people think that condones any mistreatment of animals. Like, if you eat meat, you can't complain about someone kicking their dog because it's better to be kicked than eaten? That seems like an indefensible position.

Some places that have captive animals have them because they rescued them from either worse situations (like one of the elephants at the National Zoo, who was being worked to death in a logging camp), or because they couldn't survive in the wild (there's a one-eyed owl at the Watkins Park nature center). I guess I also don't know enough about dolphins to know how they feel about being captive. Dogs will miss their mother dog when separated, but grow to love their human family (usually) and are generally happier with their humans than they would be just wandering around wild with other dogs. Dolphins are relatively social, so I guess I can see an argument that they enjoy hanging out with humans and playing games with them....but I don't really know. I think I defer to the folks at the National Aquarium, that recently decided it isn't nice to keep their dolphins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but if you don't like it, don't do it. OP I have done it and taken my kids and it was an amazing experience that they still talk about. Don't let people dissuade you. These same people probably have no issue going to a zoo or an aquarium.

First of all, some of these same people do have issues with zoos and aquariums.

Second of all, there are important differences between good zoos and aquariums and these horrible places that allow swimming with dolphins. This is a false equivalency. So glad your kids had a good time - but understand that this is a practice that will be going away. And one day you might be questioned by your children about why you encouraged them to participate in this kind of thing.

And one day you might be questioned by your grandchildren as to why you ate the flesh of other animals once some vegan protein is developed in 20 years. In the grand scheme of things, swimming with a dolphin is pretty minor on the morality scale.

I don't eat meat, and won't have grandkids, but I am absolutely certain that other things I took for granted as ok will be frowned on in the future. Seems like a good idea to avoid those that we KNOW are wrong now.

[Anonymous]

The National Aquarium is building an open water pen for their dolphins in the caribbean. That we will visit once it's done (we've also done ocean sight seeing tours to see them in the wild). Wild animals do not belong in cages. A dolphin calf most certainly doesn't deserve to be ripped from it's family/pod and sold to the highest bidder to a life of servitude in a tank being forced to cart humans around and do tricks.

[Anonymous]

We're going to Cancun soon and we can't wait to swim with the dolphins!! Our hotel has them and our room overlooks the dolphin pool! We can see them as we wake up each morning. My 8 year old cannot wait!! As for the those who think it is cruel, that is your opinion, so don't do it. The industry is there and we plan to partake in it. I really don't care how they got their dolphins, nor do I care how they slaughtered the cow from which I got the filet I ate the other night. They are just animals, and as another poster put it, too bad for them...but good for us!! I love my red meat and I love to see animals in captivity!!! Yay!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're going to Cancun soon and we can't wait to swim with the dolphins!! Our hotel has them and our room overlooks the dolphin pool! We can see them as we wake up each morning. My 8 year old cannot wait!! As for the those who think it is cruel, that is your opinion, so don't do it. The industry is there and we plan to partake in it. I really don't care how they got their dolphins, nor do I care how they slaughtered the cow from which I got the filet I ate the other night. They are just animals, and as another poster put it, too bad for them...but good for us!! I love my red meat and I love to see animals in captivity!!! Yay!!

The new dolphin pools at some resorts in Cancun and Riviera Maya are way too small and shallow for the dolphins to have any life. They are bored out of their minds and miserable. Many people are boycotting the resorts that build these little dolphin pools. Check it out on Tripadvisor. I don't have links right now, but I've seen videos and read enough. At least try to see them in the ocean not in a prison!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're going to Cancun soon and we can't wait to swim with the dolphins!! Our hotel has them and our room overlooks the dolphin pool! We can see them as we wake up each morning. My 8 year old cannot wait!! As for the those who think it is cruel, that is your opinion, so don't do it. The industry is there and we plan to partake in it. I really don't care how they got their dolphins, nor do I care how they slaughtered the cow from which I got the filet I ate the other night. They are just animals, and as another poster put it, too bad for them...but good for us!! I love my red meat and I love to see animals in captivity!!! Yay!!

So if they tortured the cow for months prior to killing it, just for fun, you don't care? I'm a meat eater and I support using animals for medical experimentation, but I think things should be done as humanely as reasonably possible. I don't really get why you would enjoy seeing animals if you dislike them so much that you don't care if they are being tortured. I'm not saying that the dolphins o these resorts are being tortured...maybe they think the free fish is a great gig. It just seems to me super weird to be a dolphin enthusiast and not care at all how they are treated. Sort of like saying "awww, what a cute puppy. Now let's bash its head in with a rock!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're going to Cancun soon and we can't wait to swim with the dolphins!! Our hotel has them and our room overlooks the dolphin pool! We can see them as we wake up each morning. My 8 year old cannot wait!! As for the those who think it is cruel, that is your opinion, so don't do it. The industry is there and we plan to partake in it. I really don't care how they got their dolphins, nor do I care how they slaughtered the cow from which I got the filet I ate the other night. They are just animals, and as another poster put it, too bad for them...but good for us!! I love my red meat and I love to see animals in captivity!!! Yay!!

The new dolphin pools at some resorts in Cancun and Riviera Maya are way too small and shallow for the dolphins to have any life. They are bored out of their minds and miserable. Many people are boycotting the resorts that build these little dolphin pools. Check it out on Tripadvisor. I don't have links right now, but I've seen videos and read enough. At least try to see them in the ocean not in a prison!

Oh, I have done my research, thanks very much! Tripadvisor rates this hotel very highly. Yes there are a few lone people complaining about the dolphins, but it is miniscule. The hotel we are staying at is brand new, beautifully situated, and highly rated by the patrons. Look up Hyatt Ziva in Cancun. It is currently the #4 all inclusive hotel in Cancun. So I guess people don't mind the dolphins so much, huh? So for those of you who choose to boycott, we are glad! More rooms for us to choose from!!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g150807-d642781-Reviews-Hyatt_Zilara_Cancun-Cancun_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're going to Cancun soon and we can't wait to swim with the dolphins!! Our hotel has them and our room overlooks the dolphin pool! We can see them as we wake up each morning. My 8 year old cannot wait!! As for the those who think it is cruel, that is your opinion, so don't do it. The industry is there and we plan to partake in it. I really don't care how they got their dolphins, nor do I care how they slaughtered the cow from which I got the filet I ate the other night. They are just animals, and as another poster put it, too bad for them...but good for us!! I love my red meat and I love to see animals in captivity!!! Yay!!

The new dolphin pools at some resorts in Cancun and Riviera Maya are way too small and shallow for the dolphins to have any life. They are bored out of their minds and miserable. Many people are boycotting the resorts that build these little dolphin pools. Check it out on Tripadvisor. I don't have links right now, but I've seen videos and read enough. At least try to see them in the ocean not in a prison!

Oh, I have done my research, thanks very much! Tripadvisor rates this hotel very highly. Yes there are a few lone people complaining about the dolphins, but it is miniscule. The hotel we are staying at is brand new, beautifully situated, and highly rated by the patrons. Look up Hyatt Ziva in Cancun. It is currently the #4 all inclusive hotel in Cancun. So I guess people don't mind the dolphins so much, huh? So for those of you who choose to boycott, we are glad! More rooms for us to choose from!!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g150807-d642781-Reviews-Hyatt_Zilara_Cancun-Cancun_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

PP here...sorry, here is the right link to the hotel https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g150807-d152887-Reviews-Hyatt_Ziva_Cancun-Cancun_Yucatan_Peninsula.html
It is rated #6 overall, #5 all inclusive.

[Anonymous]

Yeah. I don't think it's torture or the equivalent of bashing a dogs head in with a rock. That's kind of weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but if you don't like it, don't do it. OP I have done it and taken my kids and it was an amazing experience that they still talk about. Don't let people dissuade you. These same people probably have no issue going to a zoo or an aquarium.

First of all, some of these same people do have issues with zoos and aquariums.

Second of all, there are important differences between good zoos and aquariums and these horrible places that allow swimming with dolphins. This is a false equivalency. So glad your kids had a good time - but understand that this is a practice that will be going away. And one day you might be questioned by your children about why you encouraged them to participate in this kind of thing.

Even more reason to go now!