Marine parks in Thailand have emerged as one of the major buyers of wild dolphins from the Taiji hunts.

The hidden cost of Thailand dolphin shows

If you’re thinking of visiting a Thailand dolphin show while holidaying, there’s something important you should know.

Behind the jumping dolphins and choreographed tricks is a brutal industry that relies on tourism dollars to stay afloat.

Every year, dolphins are hunted – for a show.

From September to March, hunters in Taiji, Japan, chase entire dolphin families into a tiny cove, using loud, disorienting sounds to confuse and blind them. 

Within the cove, a heartbreaking selection process unfolds. Young, female dolphins – deemed suitable for captivity by hunters and marine park staff are pushed apart and separated from their pods. 

Unable to escape, these dolphins are forced to watch helplessly as the rest of the family – often older bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales – are brutally slaughtered.

These dolphin hunts are being driven by the global captivity industry – and tourism dollars are keeping it alive.

Source Rob Gilhooly

Stolen from the ocean, sold to marine parks in Thailand

“To perform ‘tricks’ for tourists, young dolphins are hunted, stolen from the wild and starved into submission.”

Once selected for captivity, dolphins are confined to cramped sea pens. These deeply intelligent and social animals, who just days earlier had been swimming freely alongside their families, are now isolated, frightened, and starving.

This starvation isn’t accidental. It is a dolphin show training method. Food is withheld until the dolphins begin to respond to cues. They learn to nod, spin, jump — not for fun, but for survival.

When they are deemed ‘ready’, these sensitive ocean mammals are flown thousands of kilometres to marine parks around the world, including Thailand, and dropped into chlorinated, barren tanks. 

This is where their lives will now play out: in a sterile, artificial pool, under bright lights and loudspeakers. Performing for tourists who don’t know any better.

 

Dolphins captured in Taiji like this young girl, are flown thousands of kilometres in tanks no bigger than their bodies to marine parks around the world, including for Thailand for shows. Laws and regulations barely exist to protect these dolphins from cruelty. Exporters are not even required to ensure dolphins receive proper veterinary care or food while in transit – laws also don’t require exporters to advise authorities how many dolphins have died in transit.

 

‘One of my workmates made the comment that what they were doing was nothing short of abduction and confinement… I thought ‘that’s exactly right.’ – Masumi*, an ex-Taiji dolphin trainer (*names have been changed to protect their identity).

Thailand is one of the major importers and buyers of dolphins from the Taiji hunts

There are currently four Taiji-linked dolphin venues in Thailand: 

  • Safari World, Bangkok
  • Oasis Sea World, Pattaya
  • Nemo Dolphins Bay, Phuket
  • Pattaya Dolphinarium, Pattaya

The dolphins used in shows across Thailand – and other popular tourist destinations – often come directly from the Taiji hunts, and other hunts around the world. Some may be born into captivity, but their mothers were likely captured in the same horrifying way.

When tourists buy tickets to dolphin parks, they are unwittingly helping fund the cycle.

You can help break it: Take the pledge not to attend marine parks in Thailand now.

Their suffering shouldn’t be part of any holiday

While marketed as “educational” or “family fun,” the truth is far darker.

Many dolphins do not survive in captivity – some suffer slow, painful deaths during transportation to marine parks. Others suffer skin infections and sickness from poor water quality, chlorine and other diseases. Some dolphins are so distressed they won’t eat, and die from being force-fed.   

Dolphins taken from the wild are almost never returned to the ocean. Sadly, sensitive, intelligent dolphins who do survive captivity, will spend the rest of their lives swimming in circles, forced to perform several times a day – every day – for dead fish and passing tourists.

Source Canva Pro

You can help end this cruelty

Dolphins do not smile. Their expressions are fixed – and they hide their suffering very well. But behind every choreographed routine is a story of violence, trauma, and loss.

By pledging not to visit dolphin shows or marine parks while travelling to Thailand, you can help remove the financial incentive that drives these brutal hunts.

Take the powerful pledge now
Source Daniel Fontes

Kind, caring travellers like you can make all the difference

Your pledge is powerful – it can help to create a world where true ethical tourism is possible.

Most people don’t realise that dolphins performing in Thailand’s marine parks were stolen from the wild and starved into submission.

Right now, Action for Dolphins is calling on the Tourism Authority of Thailand to stop promoting these shows – and pushing for a ban on the import of dolphins from Taiji.

But to make change, we need strength in numbers.

Take the powerful pledge now

By pledging today, you’re sending a powerful message to decision makers that dolphin shows have no place in travel, and that no animal deserves to be stolen from the wild and forced into a life of suffering, for profit. 

Together, we can help end the link between Taiji and Thailand – for good.

Thank you for taking a stand to say that no animal should be stolen, starved, and trained to perform or confined to a life in captivity, far from their ocean home – for profit.

Want to know more? Dive in here.

Learn about the latest 24/25 hunting season.

Learn more

Tell this major travel company to stop selling tickets to Taiji-linked venues and help end the cruel live dolphin trade.

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