There have been many reported cases of people with various health issues apparently having their condition improved by contact with dolphins and this has resulted in the concept of Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT). This is a controversial issue, firstly because there is debate as to whether it actually works, and secondly regarding the ethics of keeping dolphins in captivity for this purpose. In some cases, the people will try to swim with wild dolphins, which is preferable in the sense that the dolphins can then chose whether to participate or not.

Video clip explaining DAT

The case against DAT

Would you like to learn more about the lives of dolphins in a fun and entertaining way? Get the novel Dolphin Way – although it’s fiction, it is full of factual information about the way dolphins live and interact.

In the novel Dolphin Way, the dolphins have their own culture and language with oral histories that explain their racial memories of how they and humans went their separate ways, with radically different results. You can get the book or just download the first section for free here.

Get the book