A tech firm has unveiled its animatronics dolphins that make possible marine mammal shows without keeping any animals captive.

Captive dolphin and orca shows have fallen from favour among zoos in recent years, however, Edge Innovations in California believes audience appetite for this type of entertainment is still there.

The company, which has worked on countless theme park attractions including The World of Avatar and Jurassic World: The Ride, said that animatronics also helps zoos because the catching, transporting and breeding of marine animals has become more restricted, making the marine park industry more challenging.

Edge Innovations’ Real-time Animatronics claims to provide a new form of marine entertainment that focuses on sustainability and being kind to the environment.

Founder and CEO Walt Conti said: “Dolphin Spirit is the culmination of 30 years of work on movies and theme park attractions on projects like Free Willy, Flipper, The Abyss, Disney’s Avatar Land and the Jurassic World ride.

“Just as all major car makers are now transitioning to electric, sustainable solutions, we believe we can help the marine park industry the same way.”

Conti adds: “The goal of this initiative is to re-imagine the entertainment, educational, and business potential of the marine animal industry.”

Experience designer Roger Holzberg said: “Real-time animatronics give us the opportunity to create free swimming animals in all shapes and sizes, to behave like their real-life counterparts.

“They are also able to safely and humanely play with and even interact with performers and children. Imagine swimming with great white sharks, or in a Jurassic ocean.”

Edge Innovations has provided animatronics for Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Orlando, and Universal Studios Osaka, as well as Disney Animal Kingdom and Disney Epcot.