The Case against Marine Mammals in Captivity - The Humane ...

Risks to Human HealthDISEASESIn a 2004 report to the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission(MMC), researchers from the University of California highlightedthe potential health risks to which humans are exposed throughcontact with marine mammals. In an internationally distributedsurvey of people who come into contact with marine mammals(primarily those who work with these animals), 23 percent ofrespondents reported contracting a skin rash or similar ailment. 217As with marine-mammal-inflicted injuries, workers in the publicdisplay industry are in a high-risk group for infection. 218Exposure to marine mammals can involve a health risk to peopleworking with the animals, but it can also threaten the health of thepublic. Diseases contracted from marine mammals are difficult totreat and diagnose, as they may be overlooked or even ignored byphysicians who are not aware of the risks—or range—of potentialinfectious diseases.Respiratory diseases were also reported in nearly a fifth of marinemammal workers, including diseases such as tuberculosis. 219Clearly, exposure to marine mammals can involve a health riskto people working with the animals, but it can also threaten thehealth of the public. 220 Diseases contracted from marine mammalsare difficult to treat and diagnose, as they may be overlookedor even ignored by physicians who are not aware of the risks—orrange—of potential infectious diseases. 221 Facilities that allow directhuman contact with marine mammals, such as dolphinaria withpetting pools or swim sessions, are exposing their customers topossible infection and injury. 222 The reverse is also true—such facilitiesare exposing their animals to possible human diseases orinjury as the result of inappropriate behavior by the public.INJURY AND DEATHThe risks faced by swimmers in SWTD attractions are alarming, asis made evident by an examination of the injury reports submittedto the NMFS from 1989 to 1994. The NMFS received more than adozen reports of injuries to people who participated in U.S. swimsessions, ranging from lacerations to broken bones and shock. Oneman suffered a cracked sternum when butted by a dolphin, anda woman received a broken arm when similarly rammed. SeveralInteractive programs frequently put too many people in closeproximity to too many dolphins, often without adequate traineroversight. Photo: WSPAdolphin biologists have noted that few, if any, dolphin-inflictedhuman injuries could be truly accidental, 223 yet all the injuries inSWTD injury reports were so labeled. Broken bones and brokenface masks were described as the result of “accidental bumps.”In a more recent incident, on 7 October 2004, a 49-year-old man wasadmitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, having sustained injuriesfrom a captive female dolphin at the Miami Seaquarium. Theinjuries were severe enough that surgery was required. 224 Such incidentshave happened outside the United States as well; for example,in early 2008 three tourists were injured at a SWTD facility in