How to help the Dolphinaris Arizona Dolphins
While the investigation into the recent deaths of four bottlenose dolphins at Dolphinaris Arizona is still ongoing, the marine park has already announced that they will no longer hold dolphins, and will be a different ocean-themed park if and when it re-opens.
The four remaining dolphins have been moved out of the facility, and many of you have reached out to ask how you can help improve their lives. Right now, all four are being held at Coral World, a facility with known poor water quality and plans to start a “swim-with-the-dolphins” program. Unfortunately, while there is not currently a retirement sea sanctuary they can be moved to (although Baltimore’s National Aquarium is working on one for bottlenose dolphins!), we can speak up for better conditions for these four individuals, including removing them from Coral World. You can write to Coral World, Dolphin Quest, and Six Flags – the companies currently in charge of care for these four dolphins – and tell them that these dolphins, who likely already have health risks from their time at Dolphinaris, need better living conditions now. Dolphin Quest and Six Flags should take responsibility for the dolphins and return them to their original facilities until a sanctuary is available.
Please remember to *be polite* in your emails and respectfully make your request.
A suggestion to help get you started:
“Hello – I am writing to oppose your decision to move the surviving dolphins from Dolphinaris Arizona to Coral World. Sending these dolphins, who may have lasting health impacts from the unknown conditions that caused the deaths of four dolphins at Dolphinaris, to a facility with poor water quality increases the potential for stress and sickness. Continuing to use them in entertainment shows and for interaction programs is unacceptable. I will not be visiting your facility until you take action to provide better living conditions for these four dolphins, remove them from Coral World, and commit to moving them to a legitimate sea sanctuary when that option becomes available in the future.”
Emphasize that you will not be buying a ticket to any of their parks (Coral World, Six Flags, and Dolphin Quest) and will be telling your friends and family the same. Thanks for helping to ensure the four Dolphinaris survivors have a better life!
Contact information:
[shariff]
What can you do?
Whales and dolphins continue to be captured and imprisoned in marine parks around the world for one reason: they make money for big corporations. Help fight for whale and dolphin freedom today.
Make a donation
Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit facilities holding whales and dolphins in captivity. Support our campaign to persuade the travel industry to change its ways and to stop promoting these establishments. Thomas Cook have already removed SeaWorld. Who will be next?
Creating sanctuaries
There are more than 3,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises held in tanks. If we want an end to captivity, we need to find somewhere for them to go. Find out more about our ground-breaking work to create the first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland.
Just sent an email to Coral World. Thanks for providing tangible and useful ways to become more involved and engaged with protecting these dolphins!
I am so grateful for your blog.Really thank you! Fantastic.