SeaWorld Realizes Allowing Kids To Feed Dolphins Is A Bad Idea

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At long last, the era of dolphins biting unsuspecting children at SeaWorld may have come to an end.

The company's Orlando park announced that it would no longer be allowing visitors to hand-feed fish to dolphins - an opportunity that used to cost a mere $7.

But the dolphins - and children - aren't safe just yet. The company will still be offering $15 packages that allow guests to touch them under the supervision of a trainer. SeaWorld spokesperson Becca Bides told The Orlando Sentinel that the revamped petting program is similar to those at the company's parks in San Diego and San Antonio, where feedings have always been guided by trainers.

There are several problems associated with allowing tourists to touch, feed and swim with dolphins at marine parks, first among them the safety of young guests. In 2012, a 8-year-old girl was bitten by a dolphin she was feeding at SeaWorld Orlando, leading many to say that the exhibit was unsafe. The incident was caught on tape, and the girl and her family spoke out about the problems with the exhibit to ABC News:

click to play video

Close interactions with dolphins put visitors at risk, but that's just one problem with dolphin captivity. According to the organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation, parks that keep dolphins in tanks are preventing them from expressing normal behaviors, and captivity can induce abnormal behaviors, sickness and early death.