Facts about Captive Dolphins and Whales

 

(all information gathered from http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?p=2688&more=1)

1. There are over 500 whales, dolphins and species in the dolphin family held captive in the United States.
2. Before the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in 1972, there were about 1,133 dolphins that were taken from waters in the U.S. and 138 orcas were taken between 1964 and 1989. The MMPA is making it more difficult to capture aquatic mammals from the wild, the aquariums still can apply the permits and paperwork to do it in other countries.
3. although marine parks claim they are protecting endangered species in captivity through their breeding programs, but they normally breed the animals that aren't endangered or threatened.
4. Aquariums most of the time don't return the captive breed animals back into the wild.