Seeking a Dolphinaria- Free Europe
EU Dolphinaria There are 34 captive facilities keeping an estimated total of 307 individual cetaceans in 15 EU Member States in the EU.
EU Dolphinaria Boudewijn Seapark Belgium Festa Dolphinarium Bulgaria Fjord and Baelt Center Denmark Särkänniemi Adventure Park Finland Marineland France Parc Astérix France Planète Sauvage France Zoo Duisburg Germany Tiergarten Nürnberg Germany Attica Zoological Park Greece Oltremare Italy Zoosafari e Fasanolandia Italy Delfinario Rimini Italy Acquario di Genova Italy Zoomarine Roma Italy Lithuanian Sea Museum Lithuania Mediterraneo Marine Park Malta Dolfinarium Harderwijk Netherlands Ecomare Netherlands Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa Portugal Zoomarine Algarve Portugal MarineLand Catalunya Spain Marineland Mallorca Spain Aqualand Costa Adeje Canary Islands (Spain) Zoo Aquarium de Madrid Spain Aquapolis Spain Oceanografic Spain Selwo Marina Spain Loro Parque Canary Islands (Spain) Zoo Barcelona Spain Mundomar Spain Palmitos Park Canary Islands (Spain) Kolmarden Sweden Delfinariu Constanţa Romania
Number of dolphinaria in EU Member States Number of captive dolphin facilities
EU Dolphinaria There are 34 captive facilities keeping an estimated total of 307 individual cetaceans in 15 EU Member States in the EU. Species include: an estimated 281 bottlenose dolphins, 12 orcas, 11 harbor porpoises, 2 beluga whales and 1 Amazon River dolphin. Of the 28 Member States of the EU, 13 do not have captive dolphin facilities. Slovenia, Cyprus and Croatia prohibit the keeping of cetaceans in captivity for commercial purposes, Hungary has prohibited the importation of dolphins, whilst Greece has banned all animal performances. The majority of dolphinaria in the EU are regulated by the national zoo legislation, which must conform to the requirements of EC Directive 1999/22. Bulgaria is the exception. Five Member States (Belgium, Finland, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom) have specific legislative standards for the keeping of cetaceans in captivity. The UK Standards have, to date, prevented the further establishment of dolphinaria in the UK.
The Directive (1999/22/EC) : The Zoo is a: permanent establishments where animals of wild species are kept for exhibition to the public for 7 or more days a year, with the exception of circuses, pet shops This includes the: Traditional zoo, animal (safari) park, aquarium, dolphinariums, park with aviary, falconry centre, butterfly farm, specialist zoo, farm park with wild animals, sanctuary with wild animals (open to the public 7 days of more)..
Directive 1999/22/EC Directive came into force in April 2002, when the European Union comprised 15 EU Member States. From April 2005 (2007 in the case of Bulgaria and Romania), all EU Member States were required to fully implement and enforce its requirements. The Directive provided a framework for Member State legislation, through the licensing and inspection of zoos, to: Strengthen the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity Exchange information to promote the protection and conservation of wild animal species. Provide adequate accommodation for animals in zoos that aims to satisfy their biological needs. Ensure animals are provided species-specific enrichment and a high standard of husbandry. Implement programmes of curative veterinary care and the prevention of the escape of animals.
EU Zoo Inquiry inc assessment of 17 EU dolphinaria (18 shows) Dolphinaria are failing to comply with EC Directive 1999/22 Making an insignificant contribution to the conservation of biodiversity. Only 14 of 34 facilities promote their involvement in research. Only 5.4 % of research at the European Cetacean Society conferences involves captive cetaceans. The commitment to and standard of public education was poor. Records indicate that 285 live cetaceans were imported into the EU between 1979 and 2008, in spite of a prohibition under EU CITES Regulation 338/97 on imports of cetaceans into the EU for primarily commercial purposes. All facilities fail to meet the biological requirements of cetaceans in captivity and to provide species-specific enrichment. Stress and stereotypic behaviour are common among captive cetaceans. Animals are regularly treated with Diazepam.
Commitment to species conservation Conservation status of the species of cetacean held in captivity in the EU. Species Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Black Sea bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus ponticus) Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) Orca (Orcinus orca) IUCN conservation status Data Deficient Near Threatened Least Concern Endangered Least Concern Data Deficient Justifications for keeping and breeding cetacean species?
Justification for keeping cetaceans in captivity? EAZA's 2004 annual report states: "neonatal mortality is a major problem, rendering the total ex situ bottlenose dolphin population so far not being selfsustaining. In spite of thorough pathological investigations the problem has not been solved" (Van Lint et al., 2006). A 1998 review of the European bottlenose dolphin studbook revealed another fundamental problem: "The number of founder dolphins, especially in males, might become a critical factor for the growth of the European population in the future" (Hartmann, 2000).
Use of Diazepam Diazepam (Valium and generics) is the most commonly used sedative/tranquillizer in the bottlenose dolphin. A sedative and anticonvulsant, and is used to temporarily treat certain behaviour disorders, such as stereotypies and anxiety. It must be used with extreme caution in animals that are aggressive, or have liver disease (which may increase the drug s toxicity) and not used on pregnant animals. Long-term usage results in drug tolerance, ensuring that higher and higher doses are needed to achieve the same effects. Tempting to use these medications as a management tool. Used to help mask the problems of poor husbandry, and of inappropriate and depauperate environments. Potentially significant side effects interfering with learning, and aggravating aggression and self-harm. They can also interfere with sleep patterns. If an animal(s) cannot be satisfactorily managed without sedation it should either be moved to a facility that can look after its welfare appropriately. Serious questions need to be asked of those institutions that misuse diazepam, and the withdrawal of their licenses considered.
How to phase-out dolphinaria? We should - Prohibit captive breeding; Prohibit the import of further cetaceans; Prohibit the development of new dolphinaria; and Prohibit the expansion of existing dolphinaria. In the meantime - Drastically improve the health and welfare of existing cetacean residents. Where appropriate and available, work with existing dolphinaria to transfer captive cetaceans to rehabilitation, retirement and/or release programmes that comply with the standards of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and IUCN release guidelines.