In the video, spectators are seen heckling and booing the protesters and cheering their removal from the site.

Later, a third group of 10 demonstrators who targeted the performing seal show were removed from the park by police wearing plain clothes. The mid-afternoon dolphin show was also cancelled when a further 15 protesters halted the event. Several arrests were made.

Sev Avedis, an optical clinician from Cairns, said he joined the protest because many people attending Sea World shows wouldn't realise the harm they were perpetuating to one of nature's most intelligent animals.

“Dolphins have incredibly complex social skills and display emotional awareness just like humans," he said.

"Keeping them in captivity for any reason is unjust to their existence as they are unable to socialise or communicate with each other naturally.

"Dolphins are not commodities, they are individuals – commonly sighted on coastal shorelines, it is not necessary to pay to see these suffering animals perform in unnatural enclosures."

Sea World has faced pressure around the world to end its animal shows, particularly those involving killer whales and dolphins, following the hit documentaries The Cove and Blackfish, which charted the suffering dolphins and whales kept in captivity face, leading to depression and aggressive behaviour dangerous to their handlers.

In a statement, Sea World said while it was "aware that some people do not support the idea of animals in human care" it was "pleasing to have the support of our guests who cheered when the group was escorted out of the presentations".

"We welcome constructive and professional dialogue with activist groups in a respectful manner and find the tactics of this group unprofessional and dangerous, not only to themselves but to the animals and guests," the company said.

"We are currently working with the authorities to take the appropriate actions."

On its website, Sea World claims three of its key dolphins are ones that would not have survived on their own in the wild. But activists say if they are capable of performing tricks they are capable of being freed.

Seventeen countries have outlawed keeping dolphins in captivity including Britain, France, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, Hungary, Chile and India.

Sea World parks across the world have suffered financially over growing public concerns about animal cruelty.

This year, the British travel company Thomas Cook stopped selling tickets to two parks that still keep killer whales in captivity. The firm said 90 per cent of its customers said they wanted to holiday without contributing to animal abuses.