Differences and Similarities Observed in Dolphins Raised in Captivity vs Dolphins Raised in the Wild

Abstract

Dolphins are remarkable animals. They are considered to be one of the smartest animals, secondary to humans. They have highly advanced cognitive abilities. Not only can they communicate with one another, but they can also solve problems, identify themselves in mirrors and use echolocation to identify their surroundings. This dissertation explores the differences and similarities between dolphins found in the wild and dolphins born and bred in captivity or taken into captivity. We will mainly be discussing the bottlenose dolphin as these are one of the most popular breeds of dolphin found in captivity and used for entertainment.