When people attend marine parks like SeaWorld, what they are sold is an experience. A once in a lifetime chance to witness marine animals, that they would never see otherwise, not only up close and person but also performing impressive tricks. It’s the ultimate dream adventure for anyone who harbors a deep fascination for dolphins or orca whales. Unfortunately, it is more like a nightmare for the animals.

The marine captivity industry has flourished in the past 50 years and countless animals have been taken from their homes in the ocean and placed in tiny tanks as a result. The demand for live animals in marine parks and aquariums across the world has lead to the perpetuation of the cruel Taiji dolphin drives. Every year, a group of fishermen swarms into the infamous “cove” located in Taiji, Japan and herd wild dolphins into their nets. Once captured, some dolphins are beaten and killed to become meat (a delicacy that no one really eats anymore) and the other “pretty” ones are sold into captivity.

The video above from Sea Shepherd’s Cove Guardians shows just how little regard these fishermen have for these intelligent animals. Picking up and dropping live, thrashing dolphins as if they were nothing more than an inanimate commodity.

Dolphins are highly emotional and intelligent animals – not “non-feeling fish” that can’t comprehend the pain of being ripped from their families and known existence. As Sea Shepherd writes on Facebook, “Dolphins do not belong to humans. They are not here for humans to throw around, they are not here for humans to steal from their families from the wild and they are not here for our entertainment.”

We can all help end marine captivity by boycotting marine parks and other facilities that profit from holding animals at all costs. If you agree that dolphins deserve so much better share this video and show others what the cost of captivity really is!