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Dolphin Discovery.. #144102
09/20/2017 04:50 PM
09/20/2017 04:50 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Offline OP
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Manpot  Offline OP
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Tortola/ Sonoma, California
I'm sure many of you know how I and millions of others feel about dolphins caught and kept in captivity. "Dolphin Discovery"on Tortola, I hear, has been wrecked and all the dolphins have escaped into their natural habitat. I have no doubt they will quickly adapt to life outside. Looking forward to watching them dance and dive in the open ocean..we had " Free Willy'..now " Free Dolly"..My only regret is for those who have lost their jobs and livelihood but, like those escaped dolphins, they will learn to adapt.

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Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Manpot] #144103
09/20/2017 04:59 PM
09/20/2017 04:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,896
NC
Fran Offline
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Fran  Offline
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NC
Mal, the aerial photo I saw on line of DD was about the only one that made me smile. Not because people lost their jobs but because the dolphins found their freedom.


[color:"red"]FRAN[/color] "Yes I am a pirate, 200 years too late"
[Linked Image]
Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Fran] #144104
09/20/2017 05:09 PM
09/20/2017 05:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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GeorgeC1  Offline
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GA/NC
With the destruction that rolled into that area unless the Dolphins were released before the storm I suspect sadly they did not make it.
G

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: GeorgeC1] #144105
09/20/2017 05:13 PM
09/20/2017 05:13 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,861
Bradenton, FL
Winterstale Offline
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Winterstale  Offline
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Bradenton, FL
With all of the sadness that has surrounded the last few weeks.....I would like to hope Mal is right...


[Linked Image]

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Winterstale] #144106
09/20/2017 05:18 PM
09/20/2017 05:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 183
British Virgin Islands
Yachtmaster Offline
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Yachtmaster  Offline
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British Virgin Islands
Don't be too surprised if some of them eventually return to dolphin discovery and if they do it is obviously their choice......


Safe and enjoyable boating.
Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Yachtmaster] #144107
09/20/2017 08:23 PM
09/20/2017 08:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 138
Ontario, Canada
H
henryv Offline
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 138
Ontario, Canada
In Curacao they have trained the dolphins to follow their dive boat so they can take them out into open water. The dolphins are free to leave if they choose to do so but every time they are waiting back at the entry gate to their lagoon well before the boat returns. It seems they feel that is their home.


Henryv
Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: henryv] #144108
09/20/2017 09:17 PM
09/20/2017 09:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 106
Winnipeg, Canada
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GaryC Offline
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Winnipeg, Canada
I remember visiting a place like that in Florida. The trainers said that before a serious storm they release the dolphins and after the storm they aways return. They have become attached to the people and the free food.

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: GaryC] #144109
09/20/2017 09:33 PM
09/20/2017 09:33 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,949
Milwaukee
Joeswind Offline
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Joeswind  Offline
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Milwaukee
Dolphins born in captivity have no natural instincts and probably won't make it in the wild. I understand and agree with the argument against confining dolphins, but they've been somewhat domesticated now. Think about releasing your pet dog into the wild. Where would it rather be and where will it thrive? Best to let them live out their lives where their comfortable. And don't add any new ones! Same can be said for most zoo animals.

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Joeswind] #144110
09/20/2017 09:36 PM
09/20/2017 09:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 965
Middleton, Florida
SMC_Irish_68 Offline
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Middleton, Florida

Weren't these dolphins taken from the wild?

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: SMC_Irish_68] #144111
09/20/2017 09:46 PM
09/20/2017 09:46 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,949
Milwaukee
Joeswind Offline
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Joeswind  Offline
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Milwaukee
Quote
SMC_Irish_68 said:

Weren't these dolphins taken from the wild?


If they were, they have a chance.
https://dolphinproject.net/about-dolphin...ptive-dolphins/


Mike M.
Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: SMC_Irish_68] #144112
09/20/2017 09:46 PM
09/20/2017 09:46 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Massachusetts
I had seen a post that stated they were not in the pens, but moved to a different location. Seemed to be posted by someone that worked there.


Matt
Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Joeswind] #144113
09/20/2017 10:26 PM
09/20/2017 10:26 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,766
Med/ Caribbean
sailbynight Offline
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Med/ Caribbean
Quote
Joeswind said:
Dolphins born in captivity have no natural instincts and probably won't make it in the wild. I understand and agree with the argument against confining dolphins, but they've been somewhat domesticated now. Think about releasing your pet dog into the wild. Where would it rather be and where will it thrive? Best to let them live out their lives where their comfortable. And don't add any new ones! Same can be said for most zoo animals.


I'm not sure why natural instincts would disappear due to captive breeding. The term instinct means internally programmed. Now, the learned behaviors that come from growing up in the pod might be more difficult to figure out; When to migrate, where the fish will be, etc.

I'm pretty sure they'll figure out. Hope they got out!

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: sailbynight] #144114
09/21/2017 09:31 AM
09/21/2017 09:31 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,949
Milwaukee
Joeswind Offline
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Joeswind  Offline
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Milwaukee
Speaking of natural instincts, what are all of those seagulls doing hanging out by the back of my boat.


Mike M.
Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: maytrix] #144115
09/21/2017 11:08 AM
09/21/2017 11:08 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,035
Buffalo, NY
LauraTheTshirtGal Offline
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LauraTheTshirtGal  Offline
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Posts: 4,035
Buffalo, NY
Quote
maytrix said:
I had seen a post that stated they were not in the pens, but moved to a different location. Seemed to be posted by someone that worked there.



I read that too but I call bullsh*t, the answer was too vague. Where do you relocate a dolphin to? The whole explanation is just odd.

People on FB are demanding proof of life pics
https://www.facebook.com/dolphindiscoverytortola/

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: LauraTheTshirtGal] #144116
09/21/2017 12:16 PM
09/21/2017 12:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
pooping <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: LauraTheTshirtGal] #144117
09/21/2017 01:10 PM
09/21/2017 01:10 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
Quote
lauraandrex said:
Quote
maytrix said:
I had seen a post that stated they were not in the pens, but moved to a different location. Seemed to be posted by someone that worked there.



I read that too but I call bullsh*t, the answer was too vague. Where do you relocate a dolphin to? The whole explanation is just odd.

People on FB are demanding proof of life pics
https://www.facebook.com/dolphindiscoverytortola/


Seems like it would be easy for them to show a video or something. The fact they haven't could just mean communication is poor where they are or it could mean they aren't being truthful. Hopefully we'll find out.


Matt
Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: maytrix] #144118
09/21/2017 01:24 PM
09/21/2017 01:24 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Offline OP
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Manpot  Offline OP
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Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Michael Fritton ,Lord Landcrab, tells a tale of a dolphin he met in Brewer's Bay while swimming. The dolphin started performing tricks and jumping over him..Fritton thought he was a natural genius til some guys in a boat pulled up to hunt down the dolphin who had escaped from captivity. Hopefully the dolphin got away. So, while I believe dolphins dont forget how to interplay with humans I think they are much happier doing it in their own environment not in some stinking pool. I was lucky enough to witness two dolphins playing with kids in The Bight on Norman and it was magical to watch. When they had had enough they just swam away..

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Manpot] #144119
09/21/2017 01:53 PM
09/21/2017 01:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Massachusetts
Yes, I agree. I'd much rather see them in the wild then in captivity. I'd never pay to swim with them.


Matt
Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: maytrix] #144120
09/21/2017 02:13 PM
09/21/2017 02:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,199
Devon, UK
salica Offline
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salica  Offline
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Devon, UK
My most magical moment, and a very special BVI memory is of a very early morning in Little Harbour, Peter. No one else around except a male dolphin about 20 yards away. He swam the length of our boat, disappeared and returned 2 or 3 yards nearer to repeat this show several times until he was right alongside. I could see every striation on his body. I'm saying 'he' as he was showing off to a female! At the last pass by he flicked his tail and disappeared. Worth £££££ to me. It couldn't be repeated in a prison, somewhere I would never visit. Keep dolphins free!!

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: salica] #144121
09/21/2017 02:23 PM
09/21/2017 02:23 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Offline OP
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Manpot  Offline OP
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Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
We were on " Jeannius" heading to Martinique and the winds were not helping at all. Mike Beswick came to me and asked how I'd feel about heading to Dominica for the night...and dining at a great place we had visited on an earlier trip called " La Robe Creole" (hope its still there after Maria).As we turned ' Jeannius" towards Dominica a huge pod of dolphins surrounded the boat and led us all the way to the island..magic moments..

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Manpot] #144122
09/21/2017 05:41 PM
09/21/2017 05:41 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
We've had a few experiences.

This one on our passage from St. lucia to the BVI (As it happens it was as we were passing Dominica).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPtxweh4BUw

And this one while diving the Indians, which was too short frown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84ZYr1YfZaY

Also heard one surface as we were sitting on a mooring in the Bight - we were close to the entrance near the edge of the mooring field.

We also saw about 50 or so in a pod off the coast of St. Vincent on our first trip down there about 5 years ago. Very cool. Same trip we also saw two different groups of whales.

Last edited by maytrix; 09/21/2017 05:42 PM.

Matt
Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Manpot] #144123
09/21/2017 08:40 PM
09/21/2017 08:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 388
ONTARIO
bvilovercgb Offline
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ONTARIO
We were sailing from CGB to Jost...and there on a quiet morning a pod of 8-10 dolphins raced along side our boat, it was a magic moment as those that have seen this happen know..captivity? Swimming with dolphins? Seriously!

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: bvilovercgb] #144124
10/02/2017 01:41 PM
10/02/2017 01:41 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 234
BVI
Tortolian Offline
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Tortolian  Offline
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Posts: 234
BVI
According to the workers there, the Dolphin Discovery dolphins were moved to the Prospect Reef swimming pool before the storm (they do this every time there is a hurricane) and have since been shipped out to another Dolphin Discovery in Jamaica. frown

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Tortolian] #144125
10/02/2017 01:44 PM
10/02/2017 01:44 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Offline OP
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Manpot  Offline OP
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Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Shame on them..

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: Manpot] #144126
10/02/2017 01:51 PM
10/02/2017 01:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 388
ONTARIO
bvilovercgb Offline
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ONTARIO
It's why we would never ever stay at Prospect....ever.

Re: Dolphin Discovery.. [Re: bvilovercgb] #144127
10/03/2017 11:07 AM
10/03/2017 11:07 AM
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 6
LittleBird Offline
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I'll give the folks that visit these dolphin prisons the benefit of the doubt and assume that they don't know that the dolphins were captured in the wild, ripped from their family and social group and will most likely die in captivity. However, they can be informed. Take to Google reviews and TripAdvisor and let people know that if people were not willing to pay to interact with captive dolphins, the dolphins wouldn't be captured and held in these cages.


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