FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
21st February DOLPHIN FREEDOM UK Contact: info@dolpinfreedom.net
Dolphinaris informants in Mexico blow the whistle on at least 5 more dolphin deaths in under two years.
Dolphin Freedom was approached by a group of informants currently involved with the dolphinarium corporation, Dolphinaris, after a fifth dolphin died in under two years in Mexican locations – quite shockingly the fifth fatality occurred exactly one day before the fourth dolphin died in the Dolphinaris installation in Arizona. The Arizona Dolphinaris Installation is currently closed due to the fact that 4 dolphins died in that one facility in under 2 years.
Dolphinaris informants approached Dolphin Freedom in a desperate and distraught state, hoping that something could be done to help the remaining dolphins held by the corporation. Dolphinaris has 5 dolphinarium installations in Mexico and currently holds around 75 captive dolphins.
The 5 deaths which occurred in Mexico in the past 19 months have taken place in two installations. Three deaths occurring in the Riviera Maya tanks and two dolphin deaths in the Cozumel facility. According to the group of informants involved with Dolphinaris, even more deaths have taken place, however Dolphin Freedom Mexico is unable to validate these fatalities (at present.) Dolphin Freedom has been actively monitoring Dolphinaris facilities since 2012.
The most recent fatality was a calf born to dolphin mother Maty. The calf was born 19th January 2019 and sadly died January 30th. The calf was not named and was held in the Riviera Maya facility. The second dolphin to have passed was another calf. This calf was named Blue. He was only 6 months old. He was also held in the Riviera Maya facility. 5 dolphins including Blue caught pneumonia, Blue was unable to survive it and died.
In the Cozumel facility two adolescent female dolphins both died suddenly within 20 minutes of each other. Sol and Mu, who were both 7 year old females, suddenly stopped eating. Staff, surprised by this, went to investigate why they had stopped eating. Reportedly, the dolphins both started to convulse and within a short amount of time died.
The fifth fatality was Balam, one of Dolphinaris’s oldest dolphins aged around 40 years. Balam caught an infection from imported sand which was put in the installation for aesthetic purposes and tourist enjoyment. Balam was unable to survive the infection and died. After Balam’s death, Dolphinaris removed the sand from the installation.
Dolphin Freedom is currently investigating even further allegations of dolphin fatalities and will release this information when we are able to substantiate it. In addition to these fatalities, the informing group also alerted us to a plethora of health problems the captive dolphins are suffering from and being treated for. Dolphin Freedom will release this information soon.
PROFEPA, Mexico’s environmental agency in charge of overseeing dolphinariums, has a history of not fully investigating dolphin deaths. PROFEPA’s attention to these dolphin deaths is critical. We plead with Mexican authorities to properly investigate the deaths of Maty’s calf, as well as the deaths of Blue, Sol, Mu and Balam: Dolphin Freedom has attained solid evidence that the 5 dolphins listed were held by the corporation and have died, so it would reflect poorly upon PROFEPA’s authority if they announce that everything is fine. The evidence obtained most notably demonstrates that there is a serious problem within Dolphinaris Mexico installations and that there is a grave risk for dolphins lives, not just in Dolphinaris Arizona but Dolphinaris Mexico as well.
We call upon PROFEPA to do its job and act for the best interest of the animals it is supposed to protect. We call upon PROFEPA to fully investigate these deaths and also permanently close Dolphinaris.
Dolphin Freedom Mexico asks for national and international pressure in urging the Mexican authorities to investigate these deaths and take whatever action is necessary to eliminate any further harm to dolphin lives.
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