July 4th is World Day for Captive Dolphins – remembering the thousands confined around the world, many in barren tanks, forced to perform for the paying public yet suffering mentally and physically every day. Captive dolphins may look like they are smiling, but they’re not.
We do have some positive news to share, however. Online-only travel agent, Thomas Cook has removed the sale of any attraction with captive dolphins or whales. The company offers holidays to a huge selection of worldwide destinations and in 2018, the former Thomas Cook business removed from sale any attraction with captive orcas, it has now gone further. Instead, it will only offer and promote wild-watching dolphin and whale experiences, which allow people to see these animals in their own, natural habitat. The change by the company comes as part of a new animal welfare policy alongside a relaunched tickets and excursions offer for its customers. In a statement, Thomas Cook’s chief executive Alan French said while bookings had rebounded strongly post-pandemic, the brand had also witnessed a fall in demand “for activities that harm the environment or animals”.
Margaux Dodds, anti-captivity lead for Marine Connection comments ” People’s attitudes towards seeing animals in captivity are changing, they no longer want to watch the suffering and exploitation, whether it’s a dolphin, tiger or bear. Legislation is also catching up with public opinion with many countries now banning dolphinaria, but we also need to keep pushing to end the captive breeding and trade of cetaceans. Over the coming months, Marine Connection will continue encouraging other travel agents and operators that advertise and profit from dolphin and whale shows to follow Thomas Cook and stop selling tickets”.
