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Dolphins gnaw concrete walls in closed park
15 Sep
Summary
- Nine dolphins remain trapped in a closed park.
- Campaigners allege dolphins suffer from disease and stress.
- Officials deny mistreatment and claim adequate care.
Nine dolphins, including seven males and two females, remain confined within the indefinitely closed Dolphin Discovery Ventura Park in Cancun, Mexico. Despite the park's closure announced in January 2025, these animals have been left in their enclosures. Animal welfare groups have documented distressing behaviors, such as dolphins chewing on concrete walls, indicative of extreme stress and boredom. These groups also allege the dolphins suffer from various diseases, including cancer and bacterial infections, and are fed only once a day.
In October 2025, Mexico's Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) seized the pod. However, PROFEPA deemed it unsafe to move the dolphins and stated that some are ill but receive daily veterinary attention. Environmental officials have publicly verified the dolphins' condition, asserting they are not abandoned and are in adequate state. This contrasts sharply with a health report from January, which indicated multiple organ failures in three dolphins and diagnosed mouth, eye, stomach, and lung diseases, alongside signs of stress and depression.
