The Animals and Society Institute has released a new policy paper that examines the welfare of wild and captive dolphins used in "swim with" programs. At 24 facilities in the U.S. (mostly in Florida, California and Hawaii), the public is allowed to swim with dolphins (including beluga whales), either for recreation or as "therapy." Elsewhere, tour operators seek out wild dolphins for open-ocean encounters. In their paper, "Dolphin-Human Interaction Programs: Policies, Problems and Alternatives," Dr. Lori Marino and Dr. Kristin L. Stewart discuss the federal laws and policies that regulate these operations and the harmful effects that involuntary contact can have on the dolphins.

The paper is the fifth in a series that has previously examined dog bites, elephants in circuses, disaster relief for animals, and the academic field of Human-Animal Studies.

Details and ordering information are available at www.animalsandsociety.org