Dolphin Assisted Therapy

Dolphin Assisted Therapy

WDCS is calling for a total ban on Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) because of the harm it can cause to both the people and animals involved.
DAT is a controversial therapy that involves close interaction with dolphins, usually through swimming with the animals, and is promoted as a treatment or respite from illness and disability. 

WDCS’s research has shown that:

• There is no scientific evidence to prove that the therapy is effective.
• There are no official standards or regulation governing the industry.
• Dolphins are removed from the wild to stock the growing number of DAT facilities, and this has both serious conservation and welfare implications for the animals.
• Both people and animals can be exposed to infection and injury when participating in DAT.
• DAT is extremely costly despite the lack of evidence of its success and there are other therapies available that are both cheaper and easier to obtain.

The findings of our research are supported by Research Autism. “We believe this type of therapy is extremely expensive and potentially harmful to both people with autism and the dolphins. There is no good quality research to support its use and therefore we would urge people to exercise caution when considering such an undertaking.” Richard Mills, Research Autism.

Read WDCS report on DAT, or download the WDCS DAT leaflet and let others know what is going on in these facilities