Captive dolphins in Spain

Spain currently leads the ranking of countries with the largest number of dolphins in captivity. The number reaches 93 and they are concentrated, above all, in the Oceanogràfic in Valencia. Not only that: it is also the country with the most centers in it Dolphins are used for entertainment purposes.. This is what the organization says Animal protection in the world The result of the comparison they made on the occasion of World Oceans Day celebrated on June 8th. According to this study, there are 308 “trapped” dolphins in 14 European countries “where cetaceans continue to be used for human entertainment at the expense of animal suffering.” At the top of this “shameful ranking”, as the organization describes it, are also countries such as Portugal, Ukraine and the Netherlands.

And although these animal specimens are advocated as an option to consider species that are too hard to see, the reality is that their living conditions are not ideal. As the NGO points out, “captive dolphins have no choice but to act out three times a day in exchange for food, while spending the rest of the time bunkering in small pools 200,000 times smaller than the area they would live in in nature, without being able to Enjoy the diversity of ecosystems and the freedom offered by the ocean and its natural environment.In fact, animal protection in the world began a signature campaign Oceanogràfic’s demand to “stop dealing with the suffering of the dolphins”. The idea is not a utopia, since there are already as many as 30 countries in Europe in which whale shows are not held, as is the case with France, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Norway or the United Kingdom.

However, it is worth asking the million dollar question. How could this happen in Spain when it is March of the same year Animal welfare law? The answer is simple: the regulations promoted by the Ministry of Social Rights and the 2030 AgendaAnd It excluded dolphins, just as it excluded hunting dogs, hawks and bulls despite complaints from environmental and veterinary organizations.

The Humane Act excluded dolphins just as it excluded hunting dogs, birds, or oxen

With regard to cetaceans, what is approved is that dolphins, killer whales and other animals kept in captivity in aquariums And other facilities, “will not be banned if from 2026 they are in appropriate centers and research activities.” Are these types considered less suffering? No, the question seems to be something else: They are in a very profitable business. Captive dolphins generate thousands of euros annually in the various shows in which they are used, though according to Free European Delfinaria Change is happening and there is increasing awareness of the negative effects of capturing these animals. An alternative to these types would be havens Intended to house captive whales retired from show business. It is not a natural habitat for these species, but a protected environment where dolphins and killer whales can live in an environment as close as possible to their native environment and remain protected and cared for by staff and veterinary teams.

Because if the goal is to protect the environment, It doesn’t seem very helpful to continue to deprive animals in danger of extinction of their freedom, as it happens with several species of dolphins. Advertisement as an environmental education practice that thinking about species experiencing terrible living conditions seems like a real contradiction. Therefore, is biodiversity protection important, or is it only important as long as it does not lead to economic losses? However, the right path can be directed towards generating other options where animal ecology and economic sustainability can complement each other.