Marine Connection has received the news that 2 dolphins have recently been transferred to Zoomarine, Algarve. Both dolphins were born in Germany – the female Naomi, born in Nuremberg in 1998 and the male Arnie, born in 2000 in Heide Park, Solatu. It has been advised that Naomi will be placed into a breeding group, whilst Arnie will be placed into a bachelor group. Arnie was moved to Nuremberg along with another dolphin, from Heide Park in 2008. Merlin Entertainments had recently acquired the park and having a ‘no cetaceans’ policy, closed the dolphin facility at Heide Park. At the time Merlin advised they chose to move the dolphins to Germany on loan until a more natural solution could be found for them. For many years Merlin have reportedly been involved in the establishment of a dolphin sanctuary, this being the case we have to question why Arnie has been moved yet again to this facility in Portugal.
Photo Credit: Zoomarine, Portugal
