News has just been received from colleagues in Greece that the appeal lodged by the owner of Attica Park against his 2023 conviction has been rejected by the court.
The appeal challenged an eight-month prison sentence issued in relation to the use of dolphins in public shows, which was found to be in breach of Greek law. The case also raised concerns regarding the original construction of the facility and whether the required documentation and authorisations had been properly obtained.
During the appeal, the owner’s legal team argued that the dolphins had not been used in shows but instead participated in “educational” presentations. However, after reviewing all the evidence presented, the court rejected this claim.
The judge concluded that the owner had indeed violated the law by using the dolphins in performances. As a result, the original sentence has been upheld: an eight-month prison term, suspended for three years.
BELOW IS A REPORT RECEIVED FROM OUR MEMBER OLGA KIKOU, IN GREECE
😊 I’m delighted that today Friday the 13th 2026, marks the end of a long journey.
After many battles that began in the spring of 2010, we finally found justice in the Greek courts.
Today, the Court of Athens issued a final conviction against the owner of Attica Zoological Park, upholding the first-instance decision and sentencing him to eight months of imprisonment with a three-year suspension for organizing and carrying out dolphin shows in previous years.🐬
The court’s decision was unanimous, and the sentence imposed at first instance was fully upheld, with no reduced sentence.
This case followed repeated complaints that I filed together with Alexandros Frantzis, President of the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute, in 2019 and 2020, in the context of my work to end cetacean captivity as a member of Dolphinaria Free Europe (DFE), the coalition where I learned so much over the years.
Animal performances involving all species have been prohibited in Greece since February 1, 2012, under Law 4039/2012. Yet, they were taking place at the dolphinarium.
Many years of advocacy, dating back to the spring of 2010, when the first dolphins were brought to Greece, together with sustained legal efforts more recently, have finally led to this moment. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has joined us in this long journey.
In this otherwise gloomy political environment for animals in the EU, today’s outcome strengthens our determination to continue working to end animal exploitation.
It may not come tomorrow or next year of even next decade but it will come, as long as we continue our efforts and stay focused on the ultimate goal.
