Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Federal inspectors have closed the dolphinarium of the Barceló Riviera Maya Hotel. The closure came after the death of three dolphins lead inspectors to the hotel who have since confirmed the hotel lacks show permits.
The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) says they have suspended activities at the Barceló Riviera Maya Hotel’s dolphinarium since the hotel does not have authorization from Semarnat Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales) to carry out dolphin shows.
With the suspension of activities, the hotel continues to operate, they said, but the dolphinarium will not be able to carry out shows since it does not have authorization for such activities. Those types of activities, they said, are not contemplated in its management plan which has resulted in the death of three dolphins.
“Profepa has been carrying out an exhaustive inspection at this dolphinarium for over a month following the dissemination of a video on social media in which a dolphin is seen hitting the concrete while performing an acrobatic act.
“This procedure is added to others already initiated during 2024, due to the deaths of dolphins Alex and Plata, in the same dolphinarium,” the agency reported in an official statement.
“This is the first measure we have applied to this facility based on the findings of our inspection. The work we are doing is not finished. Profepa is committed to ensuring the dignified treatment of wildlife in captivity,” said Mariana Boy Tamborrell, Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection.
It is important to add that as a result of the events that occurred at the Barceló Hotel dolphinarium, Profepa (Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente) will begin to carry out inspections in all dolphinariums in the country to ensure the dignified treatment of the specimens they house.
