Quantitative Behavioral Study of Bottlenose Dolphins in Swim-with-the Dolphin Programs in the United States; Final Report

摘要

Behavioral observations of dolphins in Swim-With-The-Dolphin (ISWTD) programs were conducted at all SWTD facihities, resulting in 107 observation hours of Swims. We used the same quantitative behavioral sampling technique at each facility to ensure comparable data collection during all Swim programs. All Swim programs or portions of programs were classified into two Swim types, Controlled Swims and Not-Controlled Swims, that were defined on the basis of presence or absence of explicit trainer regulation of dolphin-swimmer interactions. In comparing dolphin behavior between two Swim types, we found that high risk activity comprised a substantial proportion of dolphin-swimmer social activity during Not-Controlled Swims. In contrast, high risk activity rarely occurred during Controlled Swims. Comparison of dolphin behavior during Controlled and Not-Controlled Swims at one facility, where the same dolphins and swimmers participated in both Swim types, revealed that direct trainer control was a significaint factor in determining the frequency of high risk activity during Swims.