Dolphins are some of the cutest and most intelligent animals on the planet, and it can be so tempting to see one up close that people will do almost anything for the chance. Seeing nature footage on TV or the internet is one thing, but nothing measures up to the experience of swimming with real dolphins, and it's become a huge business for resorts and cruise companies.

But animal experts and trainers who have studied and worked with these companies firsthand reveal that the business isn't as innocent as it seems.

While the dolphins look happy with their fun tricks and smiling faces, the truth is more complicated.

The dolphins we see at attractions are either born in captivity - so they've never been in the ocean - or captured from the wild, which can be dangerous for their health. The dolphins are also separated from their families.

You might not think that's a big deal, but dolphins are almost as smart as humans, and very social. They pick and choose who they spend their time with based on relationships, but in captivity they're stuck in a tank with whoever their trainers pair them with.

Imagine being stuck in a room with someone you can't stand! It would be very stressful, and trainers say that stress can really hurt the dolphins.

Click the next page to hear what real dolphin trainers have to say!

In the wild, dolphins will swim up to 40 miles in a day. Their habitat in captivity is often less than 1% that size. Dolphin tanks are considered "large" if they're 10 feet deep, but wild dolphins will regularly swim 60 feet deep. Their tiny habitats give them stress-related conditions like ulcers, and can even affect their personality.

"Dolphins are beautiful and amazing creatures in their natural habitat, but stick them in a cage, and you watch them change," an anonymous trainer told the Huffington Post.

He claims dolphins get worn out and cranky from being forced to repeat the same actions over and over.

"They would get frustrated...and aggressive to guests."

Gail Woon, a former dolphin trainer, says she even saw angry dolphins lash out and bite guests. Even friendly dolphins can accidentally injure visitors who swim with them, or pass on nasty diseases like salmonella.

Plus, the businesses that own these animals normally don't look after them very well. Gail explains that at her former job, she had to "train the dolphins to help us clean their pens," because raw sewage was allowed to flow into their tanks.

Some countries, including Costa Rica, the UK and India have already taken steps to ban these businesses. Until then, you can help stop them by voting with your wallet.

A safe alternative for dolphins are tours that let you swim with them in their natural habitats.

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