The robot dolphin that could replace captive animals at theme parks one day

Conti using a handheld controller to move an animatronic dolphin in a tank at the company's warehouse in Fremont, California, US. — Reuters

HAYWARD, California: Darting around the pool as a group of swimmers stands in the shallow end, the dolphin looks much like those that jump through hoops and perform acrobatics at theme parks.

But this marine creature is a robot.