Dolphin therapy

The idea that human interaction with dolphins may be beneficial was first formulated in the 1960s by John Lilly, who studied dolphin-human communication and suggested that dolphins could help humans learn to communicate better with one another. Lilly’s ideas were extended into the 1970s when dolphin researchers began examining the effects that interacting with dolphins appeared to have on children with neurological impairments. In fact the understandable love for dolphins does encourage people to want to get close to them. This desire may stem from the belief that close contact with these special animals can provide, at the very least, a release from day-to-day stresses and boredom and, at the other extreme, some sort of miracle cure for physical and mental illness, and disability.

Dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT) has become an increasingly popular. The therapy typically occurs in marine parks and dolphinariums as part of programs that allow people to swim with dolphins. Children receiving DAT go through focused one-on-one sessions of individualized activities with a therapist (e.g., a speech, occupational, or physical therapist depending on the child’s disability) where interactions with dolphins follow a child’s correct cognitive, physical, or social-emotional response. Proponents claim that DAT can effectively improve language, behavior, cognitive processing, attention, motivation to learn, and certain medical conditions

Nowadays large numbers of these programs operate in countries throughout the world, including Mexico, the United States, Israel, and Russia. Dolphin therapy has become big business, for example in the US based Dolphin Research Center. From 1989, to the end of 1994, more than 500 children and adults from all over the world took part, with almost 5,000 so called therapy sessions. By the end of 1994, the therapy program was so successful that the waiting list for services had reached seven years! A full time program was needed and to meet this extraordinary demand, Dolphin Human Therapy moved to Dolphins Plus in Key Largo, Florida, while hiring a full time staff of seven and working in five days per week programs. The price per person for this kind of therapies in many of the facilities offering them runs at around 5000 $US for ten days not including food and accommodation.

It is no wonder that facilities such as the hotel Los Delfines become engaged in such kind of activities, as they resolve several of their institutions problems:

It is great for repairing their public image by giving them the opportunity to project themselves as institutions with the intention to help other human beings and work for the benefit of the weakest elements of our society, handicapped children.
It appeals positively to people’s emotions by addressing their need for harmony, their hope for a miraculous cure for their ill children or by giving them the good feeling to provide the best possible start for a newborns life. In order to strengthen this positive emotional connection institutions like hotel Los Delfines do promote the idea of dolphins as peaceful, intelligent and supernaturally wise species that enjoy doing good to humans. A romantic idea that fits all too well with our need for contact with nature, when living in the stressful concrete environment of big cities like Lima.
It diverts people’s attention away from the critical points of keeping dolphins in captivity and builds up a strong defense. What better reason one could have to defend animal captivity than the smiling face of a happy child?

But is it really that easy?

Interactions between humans and dolphins in captivity, such as swimming, feeding or petting, can be harmful to people as well as dolphins and this applies equally to dolphin therapy. Risks include:

aggression towards people;
the potential for disease transmission from human to dolphin or vice versa;
concerns for the welfare of the dolphins which may be forced into interactions with humans and have little respite from these actions.

Sign our online-petition against dolphin captivity in the Hotel Los Delfines

Dolphins are large, strong animals, perfectly adapted to the conditions of the open ocean. Held in a confined space and subjected to forced interaction with humans, aggressive behavior can have serious consequences.

Dr. Horrace Dobbs, medical research scientist, author, Founder of the Oxford Underwater Research Group and later Founder of International Dolphin Watch, and since 1986 one of the British Pioneers of dolphin therapies with dolphins in the wild (not in captivity) resumes his concerns:
“Natural man-dolphin encounters (not tour-organized) almost always involve isolated dolphins, turned away from their groups or orphans. Those dolphins seek in men a substitute of the social relationship represented in nature by the herd.” However, “not every solitary dolphin has a friendly character, and some of them became famous because they broke legs and arms of swimmers who approached them inadequately. Notwithstanding, many people received great benefits from meetings with dolphins, and those animals were able to unlock pathologies which were considered serious or incurable. For this reason, in many dolphinariums programs of therapy-in-pool are organized: here, though, dolphins are forced and prisoners, their territory is very narrow, and abnormal behavior (even aggressive) is not rare.”

A recent study carried out by the British Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society into dolphin/visitor interactions at marine parks in the USA records many incidents of aggressive behavior by dolphins towards human visitors such as threats, biting and butting. This study also raises serious concerns regarding the potential for the transmission of disease between human visitors and dolphins.

Is it worth the Risk?

Dr. Bernard Rimland, director of the Autism Research Institute in San Diego says, “There is no scientific evidence at all that using dolphins is helpful…. It’s a recreational thing.”

Dr. Tracy L. Humphries, conducted in 2003 a study that examined effectiveness of dolphin therapy with children six years of age or younger with disabilities. Her results were published in the journal of the Research and Training Center on Early Childhood Development, which is an institution funded by the U. S. Department of Education. She came to the following conclusion:
“The available research evidence, as examined in this synthesis, does not conclusively support the claims that DAT is effective for improving the behaviors of young children with disabilities. More specifically, the results of the synthesis do not support the notion that using interactions with dolphins is any more effective than other reinforcers for improving child learning or social-emotional development. (…) Parents of young children with disabilities and their practitioners should note that the cost of DAT is high (typically $2600 for five 40-minute sessions) and that currently there is not enough research evidence available to support the use of the practice.”

As it appears from scientific research, dolphin therapy is a well advertised miracle that comes along with a big bill and potential health risks for the patient and the dolphin.

Michael Westerveld, a pediatric neuropsychologist at Yale University’s School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, said “If there is any success, I’d be more likely inclined to attribute it to the general effects of…. the opportunity to interact with animals. You could buy them a puppy and see the same results.”

In fact a dog or a horse may do a similar or even better job, without the need of keeping a wild animal in unsuitable conditions.
“Animals offer all children the chance to connect to another living being”, says Adrian Sandler, M.D., head of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Children with Disabilities. “But for kids with disabilities, animals can also provide invaluable therapy,” he says. “Riding a horse, for example, can help a child physically strengthen his or her muscles while also serving as recreation that builds self-esteem. Mastering something new is great for children with disabilities”. But he emphasizes that the biggest benefit is the relationship children develop with the animals. They become comfortable with them, and they learn the responsibility of caring for another living being.

In terms of therapy associated with different disabilities, the presence of an animal may make sessions more pleasurable and productive and, therefore, improve therapeutic outcomes.

Riding horses specifically for therapeutic purposes has helped kids with diverse disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, eating disorders and substance abuse, according to the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), a non-profit organization that promotes the use of horses to benefit people with physical, emotional and learning disabilities. Riding can improve muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, motor development and emotional well-being, according to NARHA.

Canine Assistants is a Georgia-based organization that trains dogs – primarily labradors and golden retrievers – to help children and adults across the country with physical disabilities resulting from muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, automobile accidents and other causes. Many children will have disabilities for the rest of their lives, but working with animals can give them the motivation, physical therapy, comfort, companionship and confidence that often leads to real progress in their abilities.

Sign our online-petition against dolphin captivity in the Hotel Los Delfines

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Hotel Los Delfines – Dolphin jail or conservation project?

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Page author: Stefan Austermühle

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