Closing dolphinariums: danger for the dolphins

Public opinion about dolphins in dolphinariums has changed significantly.

But what happens to the dolphins when dolphinariums close? Discussions with political decision-makers are underway and several dolphin rehabilitation programmes are being planned in Europe, but none is yet operational. The highly complex nature of such a pilot project may be to blame.

Relocation means stress and death

Until a suitable alternative is found, the dolphins will be relocated to other marine parks. Unfortunately, this causes enormous stress for the animals and is often fatal. For example, in 2016 three dolphins from the Finnish Särkänniemi Zoo were brought to the Attica Zoo in Athens, where one of the animals died shortly afterwards.

Dolphin attractions were also closed in France, Spain and Switzerland with immediate effect due to government decisions influenced by pressure from well-meaning demonstrators.

Dolphins fall ill from time to time and do not always survive such abrupt changes or transfers. The extreme stress and fear experienced by the animals can be fatal.

Overcrowded parks and exports to China

Many of those who survive the transfer are relocated to other parks in countries where public pressure is less intense. This leads to a constantly increasing number of dolphins in the remaining dolphinariums of Europe, resulting in overcrowding and additional stress for the animals.

Marine parks in China are still developing, and it is likely that the next step will be to export European animals to China.

Rehabilitation projects as a solution

In summary, it is important that we make our rehabilitation projects fully operational as soon as possible before we apply more pressure on governments to close dolphinariums in Europe.

Dolphins Go-Free, a Belgian-Portuguese organization, presented its proposal this week to the government of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. A team of professors and experts spent three years developing the proposal. Let us hope that a light at the end of this tunnel is now becoming visible, and that the first steps toward rehabilitation and, where possible, permanent release for dolphins in Europe can finally be taken.