Yes, mumoverseas it included 14 days to either Seaworld/Busch Gardens or Aquatica - we went for the Seaworld option but did spend a day in Aquatica and it was fabulous - our small children loved Roa's Rapids - a far from lazy river!
I hear you Wottknott - point taken. I did not realise these places were so widespread - obvious really in hindsight. I went to Discovery Cove because I didn't know anywhere else to go and I thought being in the US it would be highly regulated (given their harsh penalties for interacting with wild animals in the wild). I hold my hand up - my only excuse is that whilst making my monthly contribution to the WDCS and the WWF it is something I have dreamt of for decades.
Most of the staff I spoke to at Discovery Cove were animal pyschologists/behavourists and clearly highly educated and we were told from the start that the dolphins would only come over if they chose to. I saw no hint of compulsion.
But, yes, the possibility that they may never swim in the open seas is disquieting. But there are valid reasons sometimes why dolphins and other marine mammals are in temporary capitivity and I do believe that some marine mammals actively seek/welcome contact with humans.
Unfortunately, not everyone in the world is compassionate towards wildlife and on balance I think places where people are educated about other inhabitants of the earth can serve a purpose (although I realise the people who go to these places are probably self selecting).
"For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." -B. Dioum