Dolphins have long been known for their unique relationship with humankind. Like humans, they are mammals. Also, they are similar to humans in that they show signs of intelligence. At sea, dolphins often follow seagoing vessels as if they were seeking the company of human beings. In captivity, dolphins have exhibited the ability to cooperate with their trainers. However, despite the relationship which exists between the two, there has been some concern in recent years about the abuse of dolphins by humans. For example, the U.S. Navy has used dolphins in experiments which are geared toward implementing them in warfare activities. One such activity involves having the dolphin hit a target with an exploding device which kills the animal.
Another area of recent concern is found in the fishing industry. In particular, many dolphins get caught in nets which are used for catching tuna. This occurs because certain types of dolphins travel with schools of yellowfin tuna. As a result of this situation, it is possible for hundreds of thousands of dolphins to die in the course of a single tuna catch. Many people in America have expressed outrage at this high number of dolphin deaths. As a result, in 1980, the U.S. government passed a law which prohibits American fishermen from killing more than 20,500 dolphins per year ("A Fishy Story," 1991, p. 69). In addition to such government restraints in the United States, public demand has recently caused the major tuna canning companies to start rejecting tuna from any nation if their fishermen are responsible for the deaths of too many dolphins.
In terms of biological classification, dolphins are cetaceans, which are an order of the mammal family (May, 1990, p. 15). All cetaceans have certain characteristics in common. For example, they all live in water, they all have fins, and they all lack hair (for the most part). Whales and porpoises, as well as dolphins, are members of the cet...