The United Nations has declared 2007 the Year of the Dolphin! Download a poster, learn all about dolphins, and earn your "dolphin diploma" at yod2007.org.

Most people wouldn’t normally be eager to jump in a tank or cage with a powerful, sharp-toothed, 500-pound predator. Yet, every year, thousands of people pay hundreds of dollars to do just that. Why? They’re swimming with dolphins.

Getting up close and personal with dolphins might sound like a blast for you—but it’s work for these smart marine mammals. And though wild dolphins don’t usually hurt humans, captive dolphins are a different story.

Danger in the Dolphin Pool
Wild dolphins in their natural habitats are rarely considered dangerous to people. The same isn’t true of dolphins made to work in swim-with-the-dolphins programs. They can become aggressive, sometimes chasing or ramming people in the pool. Swimmers have gotten injuries ranging from bites and bruises to broken bones.

If wild dolphins don’t act this way, why do captive dolphins? It’s most likely because dolphins don’t do well living in tanks. They’re much better off in the ocean, where they live in family groups called pods. Whistling and chirping, dolphins can communicate in their own language. When one is in trouble, the others help.

Now picture dolphins in a marine park. Compared to the sea, their small tanks are empty and boring. They can’t live with their families or behave as they would naturally. This can lead to stress, illness, and even death. Allowing a parade of strange people into dolphins’ pools to swim with them only makes matters worse. Watch the video about swimming with dolphins.

Not a Good Bet to Pet
Some marine parks also have dolphin petting pools. At petting pools, people don't actually get in the water—they pay to pet and feed dolphins from the pool's edge. Petting dolphins, though, isn't really safer than swimming with them. Both dolphins and humans face many of the risks as they do in swim-with-the-dolphins programs. Dolphins are also more likely to get sick. Besides being fed too much by visitors, petting-pool dolphins have been fed items like sunglasses, coins, and stones. Watch the video about petting pools.

Defend Our Finned Friends
The most important way you can help is by not swimming with dolphins yourself. If someone you know plans to swim with dolphins, let them know about the dangers and problems. Why not try going on a dolphin or whale watch instead?

The Marine Mammal Protection Act is a law to help dolphins, whales, seals, polar bears, and other mammals who live in the ocean. It protects them from being bothered, hurt, or killed. Unfortunately, this law still allows dolphins to be captured for display in aquariums and marine parks.

You can write to your lawmakers and ask them to change this. (Click here to learn how to contact your elected officials.) Ask them to support and strengthen laws that protect marine mammals. Let them know dolphins should be swimming free in the sea—not in pools with people!