Dolphin Therapy and Autism
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Hazards
Dolphin therapy poses many potential hazards to the human participants including
- Aggressive behaviour by dolphins, which can lead to injury
- Transmission of diseases from dolphins
If the therapy takes place in the open sea there may be additional hazards including adverse sea conditions, boat traffic and harmful sea creatures
Dolphin therapy also poses many potential hazards to the dolphins including
- Stress in captive dolphins
- Transmission of diseases from humans
- Pressure on wild dolphin populations
‘There is abundant evidence for injuries sustained by participants in DAT programs (Frohoff and Packard 1995; Samuels and Spradlin 1995; Webster, Neil and Madden 1998). Moreover, interactions between dolphins and humans carry a significant risk of infections and parasitism for both humans and dolphins (Geraci and Ridgway1991).’ (Marino and Lilienfeld, 2007)
Contraindications
We have been unable to identify any groups for whom dolphin therapy might be contraindicated.
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Last Updated : 05/04/2013 Back to Top
