In 2017 the Canary Islands Superior Court of Justice (TSJC), declared that the dolphin pool which had been constructed in 2010 within the Palmitos Zoological Park in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria had been built without the owners (Aspro) first obtaining the necessary permissions, and was therefore illegal.
The owners had applied to expand in 2007, however as this meant increasing the park’s surface area by at least 20%, as the Zoological Park is located in the protected Pilancones National Park, permission was refused. Despite this, the company commenced and concluded the works, without approval.
Since 2017 the owners have been attempting to overturn the decision, asking for retrospective planning permission to be given, exempting them from having to undergo an environmental evaluation report. The Canarian High Court ruled against Aspro Parks and imposed costs on the company amounting to €3,000 and now the Supreme Court has sentenced them to pay a further €1,000.
As of October 29th 2020, the company were still promoting the dolphin facility on their website, however with no further legal challenge option open to Aspro, just when will they be forced to carry out the ruling of the court and close the dolphin facility and what will the future for the dolphins currently held there be? Perhaps they will simply be transferred to one of Aspro’s other facilities which currently has dolphins on public display – (Harderwijk, Netherlands; Boudewijn Seapark, Belgium or the Marineland facilities in Barcelona or Mallorca) – but only time will tell.
