Author: Margaux Dodds

DFE member Marine Connection has been working alongside colleagues in Malta since reports of three missing dolphins were first revealed.  The park initially advised that the dolphins had been moved to a facility in Spain, however upon further investigation, it was revealed the dolphins had in fact died at the facility.  Since making this discovery the charity has worked alongside ministers in Malta to find out the cause of death and can now reveal that this was due to lead poisoning.  An investigation into the park is now underway.

Detailed update on the Marine Connection website

Parques Reunidos has decided to close their dolphinarium in Aquopolis, Costa Dorada (Spain), and has sent their nine dolphins to Hainan Ocean Paradise (China).

Current proposals for changes to the laws in Spain regarding animal welfare may have, in part resulted in this decision by Parques Reunidos, however as they have other parks in Spain and throughout Europe, could this be the start of a change to their business model, and if so, will more of their dolphins and whales follow to China.  The closure of Aquopolis leaves Marineland, owned by Aspro Parks, the only facility left in the Catalonia region housing captive dolphins.

Parques Reunidos press release on the move here

Male beluga whale Kairo has passed away at Valencia’s L’ Oceanografic. He was moved from Mar de Plata aquarium in Argentina in 2003, shortly after L’Oceanografic opened. Over the years, he fathered at least 2 calves, one that died at 25 days old in 2006 and another born in 2016, which is still living.

In 2019, former Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson approved permits to move two beluga whales from Marineland in Canada to L’Oceanogràfic as part of a research project, however, Dolphinaria-Free Europe pushed for this move to be stopped and to date, there have been no transfers. However, this latest whale death leaves female 26-year-old Yulka and her son Kylu, which is a real concern as  L’ Oceanografic may push to import male belugas.

For decades Dolphinaria-Free Europe member Daniel Rolke, chairman of Swedish-based organisation Djuraättsalliansen (Animal Rights Alliance), has campaigned to close the dolphinarium at Kolmården having personally protested against the facility since 1993.  We are therefore delighted to have received news from him earlier today that the dolphinarium is to close.

Daniel comments “Kolmården must now be accountable and close down the dolphinarium quickly and in a responsible way for the 12 remaining dolphins. It is important that they immediately stop any breeding at the dolphinarium, to ensure no new dolphins are born at the facility in the meantime.  We are very happy that Kolmården Zoo is choosing to close the dolphinarium and the wishes we have held for decades will now become a reality.”

Dolphinaria-Free Europe will continue to support Djuraättsalliansen ongoing as plans for the future of the dolphins are discussed.

Spain’s Social Rights Minister, Ione Belarra announced during a recent press conference that as part of proposed changes to animal welfare laws, the country will be converting zoos and dolphinariums into recovery centres for native species. As Spain holds beluga whales which are non-native, how this will impact the public display industry is as yet unclear.

Further details and video via member Marine Connection

Member organisation One Voice has launched a campaign to highlight the deteriorating conditions in which the orcas at Marineland, Antibes are living in, and to also voice their concern over the current condition of 10-year-old Moana.

Moana, and the other orcas at the facility – Inouk (his uncle), Wikie (his mother) and Keijo (his brother), show stress-related, repetitive behaviours and now Moana has sub-dermal wounds which are very concerning. One Voice has filed a cruelty complaint against Marineland; for the deterioration in water quality and conditions in which the orcas are housed, requesting an independent investigation be carried out and for a precautionary foreclosure which would bring about an end to orca shows at the facility and prohibit Moana and the others from being transported to any other facility.

Read the One Voice article here
Recent video footage of Moana