Animal activists were forced to retreat after angry families turned on them for disrupting a dolphin show at Sea World in Queensland.

More than 20 demonstrators sabotaged the presentation shortly after 11.15am (Queensland time) to protest against the Gold Coast theme park's ongoing "exploitation" of dolphins and other marine mammals for "human entertainment".

Armed with placards and a loud hailer, the group jostled with security while shouting "there's no excuse for animal abuse" and encouraging hundreds of paying customers to demand refunds.

But after more than four minutes of chaos, it became clear the stunt had backfired. As a chorus of boos gathered volume inside the packed arena, angry onlookers began exiting their seats to personally confront the protesters.