Dolphins must be free

More and more governments do recognize that captivity of dolphins is wrong:

In European waters and in the United States it is prohibited to catch dolphins for display.
In England all 20 dolphinariums closed down. Some of the dolphins were reintroduced into the wild habitat.
In Germany five of nine dolphinariums closed down and others announced to not buy new dolphins anymore, once the dolphins they are keeping are dead.
In the United States, at least 10 dolphin exhibits have closed in the last decade, while during the same time frame only three new exhibits have opened.
In early 2005, Chile became the first country to ban outright the public display of most marine mammal species (as well as some sea birds), and also their import, export, and capture from the wild.
Costa Rica joined it soon after, prohibiting the capture and public display of all cetaceans.
In September 2005, the Netherlands Antilles determined that it will allow no more dolphin exhibits in its territories (it already has one and has issued a permit for another).
Some countries have banned the live import or export of cetaceans; these include Cyprus (imports are prohibited), Hungary (imports), India (imports), Argentina (imports from the Russian Federation), the Solomon Islands (exports), and Malaysia (exports are prohibited, as are imports of marine mammal species already found in Malaysia).

Other nations have banned or enacted moratoriums on the live capture of cetaceans in their waters. These include Mexico, Argentina (orca captures are prohibited), Nicaragua, Australia, China (including Hong Kong), Indonesia (live captures of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mahakam River are prohibited), Laos (live captures of Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins are prohibited), Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda, after issuing a permit to a foreign company to capture as many as 12 dolphins annually from local waters, rescinded this permission after activists filed a lawsuit arguing the quota was unsustainable and that it violated regional conservation agreements.

In the general public in most countries the impression of happy animals performing for treats is giving way to recognition of behind-the-scenes suffering.

Sign our online-petition against dolphin captivity in the Hotel Los Delfines

Nowadays dolphins are captured in development countries where corruption and lack of laws, as well of lacking awareness makes it easy to proceed. Such countries are from the former Sowjet Union, in Asia and Cuba. The dolphins of the Hotel Los Delfines have been caught in Cuba, and transported via Mexico to Peru.

Equally most investments to create new dolphin facilities nowadays are in development countries. Without strict animal welfare regulations or minimum standards for pool sizes.

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Hotel Los Delfines – Dolphin jail or conservation project?

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Page author: Stefan Austermühle

Read more about dolphin captivity and the Hotel los Delfines at: