‘A dolphin smile is one of natures greatest deceptions. It creates the illusion that the dolphin is always happy’ – Ric O’Barry, the Dolphin Project founder.
Do dolphin smile? No. This is simply the way their mouth looks. When you see them performing in an aquarium show, you think they look happy? No. The dolphin smile is an illusion.
Dolphin hunts and drives have long been tradition in many parts of the world. Most countries have outlawed or banned them completely, with Orkney and the Shetlands having put a stop to it in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s respectively. Some countries however still carry out these barbaric events for multiple reasons. Did the dolphin smile when these ended?
In the Faroe Islands it is tradition that a young boy must kill a dolphin for him to become a man, often they are killing whole family groups or pods of animals.
In Taiji in Japan they are still capturing dolphins from the wild for the choice of theme parks and other marine entertainment purposes. The ones who are not chosen are killed. Are the dolphin smiling about this?
Recently the Faroe Islands butchered a whole super pod of 1428 white sided dolphins. A protected species. These animals were not killed humanely, for nothing other than sport and fun. This has caused outcry around the world, and luckily the Danish Government has taken note and will be reviewing the laws surrounding these traditions. You can sign the petition and put your voice behind this here. Help the dolphin smile again!
