Dear :

I understand that [name of facility] plans to open a "swim-with-dolphins" program. In these cruel programs, wild dolphins are captured and caged in small pens so that profiteers can make easy money from tourists. These sensitive beings suffer tremendously as they are torn from their families and placed in sensory-depriving tanks.

In the wild, dolphins may swim up to 100 miles a day, but captured dolphins are confined to tanks as small as 24 feet by 24 feet wide and 6 feet deep. Wild dolphins can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes at a time, and they typically spend only 10 to 20 percent of their time at the water's surface, but because the tanks in marine parks are so shallow, captive dolphins spend more than half of their time at the surface. Experts believe this may account for the collapsed dorsal fins seen on the majority of captive orcas.

Furthermore, scientists have demonstrated that swim-with-the-dolphin programs present risks to both humans and dolphins. People have been seriously injured when swimming with captive dolphins.

Increasingly, as more and more tourists are becoming aware that keeping dolphins in captivity is irresponsible and environmentally insensitive, they do not want to visit areas that have captive dolphins. Canada no longer allows beluga whales to be captured and exported. In Brazil, it is illegal to use marine mammals for entertainment. In England, consumer boycotts have forced all the marine parks to close. Israel has prohibited the importation of dolphins for use in marine parks, South Carolina has banned all exhibits of whales and dolphins, and other states are currently working on legislation to prohibit the capture or restrict the display of marine mammals.

For these reasons, I ask that you cancel this plan immediately. I will not be spending any of my tourist dollars visiting any attraction that exploits animals, and will encourage my family and friends to do the same.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

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