MONTREAL — Animal-rights activists want to sink a zoo’s proposal to create Canada’s first swim-with-the-dolphins facility.
The activists said Monday that unlike cuddly cartoon images, real dolphins are dangerous and launch attacks.
“These are wild animals,” said George Dupras of Animal Alliance.
Dupras said dolphins in captivity feel frustrated: they can no longer do deep dives or swim in their natural community.
“Dolphins in the wild are quite aggressive with one another. When they’re frustrated, they’re no different than a man put in a jail cell.”
Bernard Ricard, director of the Granby zoo, said the plan allowing anyone to swim with dolphins could be launched by 2003 or 2004.
He said he was surprised by the animal-rights groups’ stand. Asked if dolphins pose a danger to swimmers, he said, “Absolutely not.”
The swim-with-the-dolphins idea would enable people to have “real contact with them,” Ricard said in an interview. “It’s pretty rare.”
“We’re a not-for-profit organization and we’re also targeting education and conservation.”
