As a published scientist in the field of dolphin behavior and social cognition, I oppose House Resolution 136/House Concurrent Resolution 208, now being considered in the Hawaii Legislature. I am struck by the scientific inaccuracy present in this resolution. The idea expressed in the resolution that these dolphins are prevented from contributing to natural ecology implies that they were recently caught or that they could be released.

However, North American facilities have not taken from the wild in decades (these dolphins have nothing to do with drive fisheries in Japan). Furthermore, dolphins born under human care could never be released under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (a federal law protecting both wild and captive animals).

Dolphins exhibit a complex social structure where individuals will break up and reform social groups based on age, sex and social status. Yet this legislation would prevent institutions like Dolphin Quest from moving animals between their two natural seawater facilities. This will hinder natural social dynamics and will lead to an increase in aggression.

Furthermore, putting an end to breeding would necessitate the use of unnatural/ineffective mechanisms of birth control including medications and unnatural social pairings between dominant males in sex-segregated groups. This, too, will lead to an increase in stress and aggression. Denying the animals the opportunity to express natural breeding and calf-rearing behavior is also a potential source of stress that will be difficult to mitigate.

The idea that captive animals have shorter lifespans is demonstrably false. Scientists have calculated the estimated lifespan for wild bottlenose dolphins to be around 25 years. The Associated Press recently conducted a survey at a non-Hawaiian facility and found that average lifespans among animals under human care were closer to 45 years. The two Dolphin Quest facilities alone house eight individuals who are at, or beyond, average life expectancy for wild bottlenose dolphins.

Furthermore, analysis of hormones show that wild and captive groups show no appreciable difference in stress and that when trained husbandry behaviors are utilized, animals in facilities are less stressed than their wild counterparts.

State Rep. Kaniela Ing has assured voters that his legislation was written by the community and not politicians. However, scientists and animal professionals who actively publish should really write the resolution. Husbandry has evolved since the 1980s and partnerships between animal facilities and universities have led to great advancements in dolphin care.

When you visit places like Dolphin Quest, you are actually visiting research centers where studies are being conducted to improve the lives of animals in the wild as well as the animals you are seeing that day. Major advancements in the study of communication, physiology, reproduction and cognition have come from captive dolphins. We still have a great deal to learn from these animals, and so long as they continue to live long and healthy lives, I will continue to support qualified and ethical programs like Dolphin Quest’s.

Jason N. Bruck, Ph.D., is an independent researcher with the University of St. Andrews Sea Mammal Research Unit; he has no financial relationship with Dolphin Quest.