As Dolphin Performances End in Taiwan, What's Next for These Dolphins?
For decades, dolphins and other captive marine animal shows have been popular not only in Taiwan, but around the world. Yet, attitudes in Taiwan have changed as research continuously showed such captivity hurt dolphins physically and psychologically. As Taiwan moves to become one of only 12 countries banning captive animal shows, the question remains: what is next for the dolphins already in captivity? Can they be safely released into the wild, or can other conservation efforts provide safe and supportive environments? In this episode of Zoom In Zoom Out, conservationist and CEO of Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation Lin Dong-Liang joins us to discuss these challenging questions, and more.
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Taiwan is phasing out dolphin performances by 2026, becoming one of only a dozen countries to ban captive animal shows. The move marks a milestone in animal welfare reform — but also raises a difficult question: what will happen to the dolphins that have spent most, or all, of their lives in captivity?
Dolphin shows have been a part of Taiwan’s entertainment landscape for more than three decades. Lin Dong-Liang, CEO of the Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation, said the practice began before Taiwan even listed cetaceans as protected animals. “Dolphin shows in Taiwan have been around for over 30 years, which is a very long time,” he said. “Yehliu Ocean World started to breed cetaceans before then and training them to do performances.”
As awareness of animal rights grew, so did public pressure to change. Lin said performances that once portrayed dolphins as “comedic or used for entertainment that mocks their nature” have disappeared over the past decade. Advocacy groups, he added, have pushed society to realize “it’s no longer the right kind of life education or animal conservation education to disseminate.”
But ending shows doesn’t mean ending responsibility. “When we decided to end dolphin performances, it might seem easy to make a clean break,” Lin said. “But these animals are still alive. So caring for them becomes a huge challenge.”
Releasing dolphins back into the wild is rarely an option. Many have lived in captivity for years, relying on trainers for food and losing the instinct to hunt. “If it’s been a long time, maybe 10 or 20 years, they may not have the strength or survival skills needed to adapt to life in the wild,” Lin said.
Taiwan has also explored creating ocean sanctuaries — enclosed areas that would allow dolphins to swim freely while being monitored and fed. However, Lin warned that Taiwan’s geography makes this dangerous. “Typhoons could pose the greatest risks,” he said. “If these animals are kept within an enclosure that’s not sufficiently reinforced, massive waves could actually put them in danger of being injured.”
Even dolphins born in captivity face bleak prospects. “When a dolphin is born in captivity, it’ll most likely spend its entire life there,” Lin said. “Releasing it into the wild or training it to survive will be very costly, and the chances of survival are extremely low.”
For now, improving life within facilities may be the best path forward. Lin urged parks to focus on animal welfare after the shows stop generating income. “Currently, the most realistic long-term approach is to let the dolphins stay in the park until they die, but they need proper care to ensure their well-being,” he said. Enrichment — like interactive tools and more engagement with trainers — can help dolphins “maintain a positive state of well-being in captivity.”
Still, Lin said the ultimate goal should be learning from dolphins in the wild. “Our curiosity and desire to understand these animals should be based on conserving them in the wild,” he said.
As Taiwan’s ocean parks plan to shift toward rescue and rehabilitation work, Lin called the change “a positive thing.” He believes these centers can become hubs for marine education, offering the public a better understanding of wildlife and the human threats it faces.
“Rescue and rehabilitation centers like these can do a lot more than just care for injured animals,” he said. “They can also educate people.”
At the end of Taiwan’s dolphin shows, perhaps a new story is beginning — one that values respect and coexistence over performance.
