Keeping dolphins in captivity is inhumane: Poll

PHUKET: A strong majority of Phuket Gazette readers who voted in a recent online readers’ poll say that keeping dolphins in captivity is inhumane.

Readers were asked: “Do you think it is humane to keep dolphins in captivity?”

Four answers were available: 1) Yes; 2) No; 3) It depends on how they are acquired and treated; and 4) I don’t know.

Overall, 45.6% of respondents answered “No”.

The second most popular answer was “it depends…”, which received 22.3% of votes.

“I don’t know” was selected by 16.4% of readers who voted, while the remaining 15.6% said it was humane to keep dolphins in captivity.

“No” held the majority in every surveyed demographic, with 47% of local foreign residents and 47% of tourists/visitors to Phuket denouncing the practice, along with and 37% of Thai nationals who voted.

While “it depends…” was the second-most popular response by foreign residents and tourists (24% and 23%, respectively), “I don’t know” came second with 24% of Thai respondents being undecided.

To view the results in full, click here.

Click here to vote in our current poll, which asks “What is your favorite chain of convenience stores on Phuket?”