About three-quarters of the Earth surface is covered by water, and salt water accounts for the vast majority of all water. The sea was the cradle of life and to the present day the sea life is one of the most interesting and exciting mysteries of mankind. But not everyone has an opportunity to dive into the sea depth or take to the open sea having a look at its inhabitants. That’s why we go to the dolphinarium.
As its name suggests, dolphinarium is a place where dolphins and other aquatic mammals live, mainly sea and ocean animals. Dolphinariums are very different. Sometimes it may be fenced off sea area, bay, salt lakes or special pools. Dolphinariums may be a part of natural reserves, zoos, oceanariums, research institution or institutes’ and universities’ divisions. But all have one thing in common – there live amazing dwellers of the water world – sea mammals. These are dolphins, whales, sea lions, fur seals, walruses and sea otters. Even penguins and river dolphins – Inias live in some dolphinariums.
The first attempts to keep dolphins in captivity were made even in the 19th century.
A beluga male was kept in pool of Boston (USA) during two years. The world first oceanarium called “Marine studio” was opened in St. Augustine (Florida, USA) in 1938. The pool was 23 m wide and 3,7 m deep. It was planned at first to attract an audience showing tropical fish, giant sea turtles and other marine creatures. But when dolphins appeared there, people were so admired by their trick and demonstrated such love that cetaceans took premier place in exposition. It was found then that the oceanarium presented an interest as a very convenient base for scientific researches. Since 1938 new dolphinariums had been opened one by one in the USA. In Japan dolphinariums had been built since 1954.
Nowadays there are about three hundred working dolphinariums. The most of them are in the USA, Japan and China. There are approximately 100 dolphinariums in the USA – almost one third of all world working dolphinariums.
The first USSR dolphinarium was opened in 1975 in Batumi.
What are dolphinariums for? Scientific dolphinariums founded by institutes and universities carry on investigations of marine mammals’ way of life, behavior and features. Scientists study great capabilities of dolphins given them by nature. Among objects of close study are echolocation, “Gray’s paradox” explaining dolphins’ ability to control their body hydrodynamics, brilliant intelligence and other talents. Demonstrating dolphinariums show dolphins to ordinary people and give performances where animals demonstrate their abilities and skills, play and make fun. There are also educational programs for children and adults, programs of direct interaction between people and dolphins (swimming with dolphins) or direct contacts of ill children with dolphins in order to achieve effects of positive psychotherapy (Dolphin therapy).
Both scientific and demonstrating dolphinariums are aimed at rescue and save Red-book animals.
Biologists, zoologists, geneticist breed dolphins in captivity and thus contribute to their genetic conservation. Scientific works are written, unexpected discoveries are made sometimes and lectures for students and pupils are given in dolphinariums.
