I have yet to meet someone who tells me that they dislike dolphins. By and large we seem to be a dolphin-loving population - we love anything which has to do with these creatures - be it, personal accessories, sculptures and soft toys and even the traditional door knobs modelled in the elegant shape of the dolphin.
True, our country does not have the finest track record where animal protection is concerned, but this particular animal has managed to retain an almost symbolic fascination in most people's eyes.
We search the seascape in the hope of getting a glimpse of these wonderful creatures and yearn for the ultimate and 'fashionable' experience to be able to swim with them some day.
A symbol of freedom, speed and elegance - with a smile that endears young and elderly alike - the dolphin attraction has, unfortunately, become a threat to its own livelihood.
Is it not ironic that this symbol of graceful agility has come to be imprisoned and held captive for the sake of moneymaking businesses worldwide?
It is made to perform demeaning circus acts, which do not befit its nature and which can be distressing for the animal - a case in point is the highly unnatural antics which it is made to perform, such as towing humans or being beached.
But one must also look deeper into the matter. Few people realise that dolphins in entertainment parks (often being advertised as educational venues) are often caught from the wild in extremely cruel operations, which may result in the death of both the captive ones and other dolphins forming part of the group.
These senseless killings are obviously never spoken about and dolphinariums do not appear to be educating the public about the threats to dolphin conservation that these money-minded ventures bring about.
Many of us remember being glued to the TV watching the antics of Flipper in a series which had a bottlenose dolphin as its main star. Flipper was actually played by not one but several captive dolphins.
The trainer who earned his living out of this exploitation is now on the forefront of campaigns to end such abuse. He realised the cruelty and exploitation involved and he could never go back to such a business.
This does not imply that trainers or staff at parks are consciously being cruel to animals they train - but it is simply that even in the most ethical of marine parks dolphins are still held prisoners in a highly unnatural environment, which often leads to boredom, depression, decreased immunity to disease, obesity due to excessive feeding during shows and training and aggressive behaviour.
So, is it a case of fatal attraction? Do we love these creatures so much that we are also causing their suffering and eventual death? Our country may have adequate laws for protecting dolphins in the wild - but that is of little use if we then allow the importation of animals, which have been trapped in countries where no such laws exist.
Marine conservation must take place all over the world's seas for it to be effective. In Japan, for instance, hundreds of dolphins, included pregnant females and young ones, are rounded up and trapped in nets - some are chosen and sent to "marine parks" or aquaria while the rest are slaughtered.
Dolphins are highly intelligent animals that live in complex societies within which they form strong bonds with each other and as such have been known to grieve deeply for lost members of the group.
They are also wild animals, and so can also be aggressive - I, for one, would never risk being in the same confined space as a dolphin which has been captured from the wild and which has been subjected to stress during and after capture.
No amount of training can render any animal 'predictable', especially when the animal has no choice in being there. The risk is high for both human and dolphin.
Various parks have noted that stress levels can increase in dolphins, which are forced to interact with visitors. There is also the risk of infection and transmission of diseases between the two.
When treating stranded wild ani-mals certain precautions always apply - such as the use of gloves and facemasks. Yet, children are often invited to kiss dolphins and come close to their blowhole (through which the animal breathes).
Animals caught from the wild pose a greater risk, as health records are obviously inexistent. Moreover, it is not the first time that captive animals have been known to bite or attack when they are forced to interact.
If we want to love these animals, then this is not the way to do it. Today various media offer almost true-to-life, 'virtual', experiences, which bring us closer to marine animals without the need to harm them.
Opportunities abound for dolphin watches even around our islands - Nature Trust is carrying out a survey of dolphins with the help of the Gozo Channel.
Don't make an educated guess - make an educated choice, and if you love animals avoid taking part in activities which are detrimental to their own health and survival.