Mexico bans captive whale and dolphin shows
Mexico is to ban dolphin and other marine mammal shows.
The unanimous decision by the country's senate is great news for our ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the cruel captivity industry and follows public pressure in recent years over welfare violations at some marine parks in Mexico.
The new General Wildlife Law will prohibit exploitation of marine mammals, but excludes approved scientific research.
The legislation has been named by some as 'Mincho Law' after a dolphin injured during a performance at the Barceló Maya Grand Resort in Mexico. Shows at the resort were suspended when video emerged of Mincho leaping from the water and landing on concrete. Two other dolphins had also died in the past year increasing calls for the closure of all dolphinariums (around 30) across Mexico, which hold over 300 dolphins captive.
Scientific evidence proves that whales and dolphins suffer enormously in captivity. These intelligent beings can't hope to swim the vast distances they do each day in the wild if they are trapped forever in a tank, unable to behave naturally, forced to interact with tourist over and over, all day, every day. Many are drugged and depressed. This is why we are continuing our campaign to end whale and dolphin captivity by encouraging more tour operators not to offer trip to captivity shows and tourists not to visit them when they are abroad.
HELP US END CAPTIVITY FOR GOOD - PLEASE DONATE
Please help us today with a donation
If you are able to help, every gift, whether large or small, will make a difference.