• Spain to hold 100 dolphins in captivity with new ‘Texas Ranch’ tourist shows
• Activists call for closure of Spain’s 12 facilities, sanctuary for marine mammals
Animal rights organisations in Spain have denounced the growth nationwide of dolphin and marine mammal tourist attractions and theme parks, saying the steady increase in the facilities and of dolphin entertainment shows now make Spain accountable for 35 percent of all dolphins in captivity in Europe and nearly 40 percent of all marine mammal theme parks on the European continent.
As the rest of Europe steadily closes down its dolphin and marine mammal tourist attractions — the UK closed theirs nearly two decades ago — the construction of three gigantic dolphin pools at the Rancho Texas zoo and theme park at Tías on the Canary island of Lanzarote will give Spain 12 dolphin attractions nationwide and add eight more dolphins in captivity, for a total of 100 held in Spanish facilities versus 183 across the rest of continental Europe.
Activist platforms such as SOS Delfines, an initiative launched in conjunction with other animal rights groups by Barcelona-based FAADA (Fundació para el Asesoramiento y Acción en Defensa de los Animales, Foundation for Advice and Action in Defense of Animals), are pushing for the closure of the parks in Spain and return of the dolphins to semi-wild status in sanctuary facilities that approximate their natural habitat.
► Read More in Spanish at El País …
► Read More in Spanish about SOS Delfines campaign to close Dolphin parks …
► Read More in Spanish about FAADA’s Barcelona #AdeuDelfinari campaign …
► Read More in English and Sign FAADA’s #AdéuDelfinari petition …
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