Aquopolis Costa Dorada, an amusement park in Spain that had a dolphinarium within the facility has transferred all of its nine dolphins to Ocean Paradise in Hainan, China.
The reason for the move is that Parques Reunidos, which owns the Spanish theme park, says it wants to focus exclusively on family entertainment and therefore it seems the dolphins no longer conform with the company’s ongoing plans. Sadly moving the dolphins to this facility proves that Parques Reunidos have not given the future welfare of their dolphins any thought, as not only will the dolphins be used for public shows but in all probability also for breeding purposes. One of the female dolphins, born at Aquopolis Costa Dorada, is less than two years old.
Marine Connection is now investigating this move further, as in 2021 Dolfinarium Harderwijk in the Netherlands revealed that it intended to move eight of its bottlenose dolphins to the same facility in China, however in November 2021, a Dutch judge blocked the transfer due to China’s lack of animal welfare legislation, the country has some of the worst dolphinariums globally and therefore this latest move being authorised by Spain is of great concern. Parques Reunidos has other facilities in Europe holding dolphins and orca, with tighter legislation being considered could potentially mean the company, fearing further enforcement, will be forced to change their business model and perhaps choose to send their remaining captive cetaceans to China also.
The fact that these dolphins have been transferred to China highlights yet again, why it is vital that the captive breeding of dolphins and whales in facilities ends, and also why there is an urgent need for seaside sanctuaries to be established. This would mean that the current generation of captive cetaceans would be the last and as facilities close, those surrendered for retirement to sanctuaries could live out the remainder of their lives in as natural surroundings as their situation will permit. In order to empty the tanks, we need to stop them from being repopulated, to ensure an end to the keeping of cetaceans in captivity.
In March 2022 there were 87 facilities operating in China, with approx. 1,097 cetaceans in captivity – an increase from 599 cetaceans in December 2015 at 39 facilities. Species held in the country currently include bottlenose dolphins, beluga whales, orcas, short-finned pilot whales, and spinner dolphins.
