A dolphin has died after jumping out of his tiny tank during a show at the Barceló Riviera Maya hotel in Mexico. The resort has long been criticized for keeping dolphins in extremely small enclosures.
A shocking video shows three dolphins jumping in the air during a performance when one of them crashes headfirst into a concrete bridge and falls lifeless into the water.
The dolphin, named Plata, remained motionless after the accident as a trainer swam to check on him. Visitors, including children, were visibly horrified by the incident.
Smallest dolphin tanks in Latin America
Animal rights organizations, including Animal Heroes, Dolphin Freedom, Marea, and Oceanos De Vida Libre, have repeatedly called for the closure of the dolphinarium, describing it as one of the smallest in Latin America.
According to activists, the concrete tank is only two meters deep, offering the dolphins no protection from the sun. The tank is also located just meters from the ocean, making the captivity even more tragic.
Phil Demers, co-founder of UrgentSeas, strongly criticized the resort: “Dolphins are wide ranging, emotionally complex, social animals that live their entire natural lives in large family pods. To see them separated from family and forced to perform for food in the most unsustainable, tiny tank is just heart-breaking.”
He also revealed that another dolphin had recently died at the facility and was quickly replaced.
Investigation launched
The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has launched an investigation into the management of dolphins at the Dolphinaris Barceló facility. The agency has requested documentation proving compliance with wildlife regulations.
Profepa specifically asked the Dolphinaris Barceló dolphinarium, located at the hotel, to provide records regarding the deaths of dolphins Plata and Alex.
The facility must also submit medical reports, necropsy results, and an updated inventory of all dolphins kept between 2018 and 2024.
“We will verify the legal ownership of the dolphins, ensure consistency in reported deaths, and track animal transfers to determine if there are any violations. If we find irregularities, we will impose the necessary sanctions,” Mariana Boy Tamborrell, head of Profepa, said in a statement.
Grupo Barceló is a Spanish multinational hotel and tourism company headquartered in Spain. The family-owned business manages 95 hotels in 16 countries. The company has 12 hotels in Mexico.
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