FLIPPER’s Trainer turned Activist
Marine Mammal Specialist, Earth Island Institute
Richard O’Barry has worked both sides of the dolphin street,
- the first 10 years with the dolphin captivity industry,
- the past 38 against it.
Working back in the 1960s for Miami Seaquarium, O’Barry captured and trained dolphins, including the five dolphins who played the role of Flipper in the popular American TV-series of the same name. When Kathy, the dolphin who played Flipper most of the time, died in his arms, OʼBarry realized that capturing dolphins and training them to perform silly tricks is simply wrong.