News is being circulated that Geoje Sea World, South Korea is considering shutting down operations due to operational difficulties following recent amendments to the Act on the Management of Zoos and Aquariums, as well as a drop in the number of visitors participating in various programs – interacting with dolphins and beluga whales up close, which the Act has impacted upon over the past year.
Since the facility opened in 2014, it has been stocked with wild-caught dolphins from the notorious drive hunts in Taiji, Japan – many of which have died over the intervening years. Geoje Sea World currently houses six bottlenose dolphins, five of which were captured in Taiji and one that was born in captivity in early 2024. The three belugas at Geoje were all wild-caught from Russian waters.
We will, of course, update you when we receive further news.
