07.11.2025 – Life behind glass

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), as we observed them today, are considered intelligent and social marine mammals. In the wild, they live in complex social groups and communicate using a highly developed system of sounds and gestures. They travel long distances every day. But in dolphinaria, this natural behaviour is massively restricted. The animals are forced to live in narrow concrete tanks, the size of which is disproportionate to their natural habitat.

In our oceans, their natural habitat, Bottlenose dolphins travel up to one hundred kilometres a day. In captivity, however, they can often only swim a few body lengths before they have to turn around. The monotonous environment often leads to behavioural disorders. They may swim stereotypically in circles, chew on the tank walls or show aggression towards conspecifics. Such symptoms are considered to be clear signs of extreme psychological stress.

The animals also suffer in terms of their health: chlorinated water irritates their skin and eyes, the artificial food is no substitute for a varied diet and many dolphins die much earlier than their wild counterparts. Captive breeding is also problematic as it only perpetuates the suffering.

More and more countries have therefore banned or severely restricted dolphinaria. Instead, observation programmes in the wild are gaining in importance without depriving them of their freedom. Of course, a critical attitude is required to ensure that this does not get out of hand and disturb the animals in their habitat.

Keeping Bottlenose dolphins in captivity is definitely not ethically justifiable. Reducing an intelligent and sensitive creature to a life behind glass means robbing it of its dignity. Real respect for dolphins begins with the protection of their oceans – not with their display.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Bottlenose dolphins

13:00 Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Striped dolphins

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins

16:30 no sighting