Not all human beings are happy that dolphins will be performing at the Georgia Aquarium.
A protest of the downtown venue's dolphins shows, which begin today, is planned today at the Baker Street corner of Centennial Olympic Park.
“We’re not trying to force our opinion on anybody,” said Becky Pugh, of Marietta, who is distributing pamphlets and a DVD to those attending the dolphin shows. “We just want them to be truly educated on what life is really like for dolphins and whales in captivity.”
The protest is scheduled to run for several hours Saturday. Another protest is scheduled for April 16. Protesters say animals should not be forced to perform tricks and live in captivity.
Aquarium officials said Saturday that the show benefits animals living in the wild.
"Everyone's entitled to their own opinion," said Scott Higley, vice president for marketing and communication at the Aquarium. "Our folks here are animal care experts. They study and observe dolphins here, do field research and do health assessments of dolphins in the wild. All of the things we learn here we can apply to help make positive changes in the wild and help dolphins in their natural habitat."
Formally dubbed AT&T Dolphin Tales, the exhibit and show includes interactive displays about conservation efforts and a 25-foot-long underwater viewing window that guests will encounter on their way to the main draw: a Broadway-style theatrical show with actors and dolphins highlighted by heavy production values.
The show's stars s were all born in captivity, hailing from aquariums in the Bahamas, Bermuda, Hawaii and from Marineland, the attraction near St. Augustine, Fla., that the Georgia Aquarium took over.
Originally slated to make its splash in mid-November, Dolphin Tales was postponed to give the 11 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins more time to acclimate to their 1.8 million gallon tank.
Entry to AT&T Dolphin Tales is separate from general admission; combination ticket prices range from about $26 for children, $37 for adults.
A free mobile exhibit featuring "educational components of the Dolphin Tales" show is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the corner of Luckie and Baker streets, officials said.
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