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After inspecting Cancún dolphinarium, Profepa rules out moving 9 animals due to severe illness
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

After inspecting Cancún dolphinarium, Profepa rules out moving 9 animals due to severe illness

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Mexico's environmental protection agency (Profepa) will not relocate nine dolphins from a closed Cancún facility due to their severe illnesses and advanced age.
  • Profepa is prioritizing the dolphins' well-being and improving their current enclosure conditions while assessing individual transfer possibilities.
  • The agency stated the dolphins' conditions are of "reserved prognosis," with specific ailments noted for several individuals, including corneal inflammation and dental abrasion.

Mexico's Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has decided against relocating nine dolphins from the Dolphin Connection Cancún facility, formerly Dolphinaris Cancún. The dolphins, suffering from severe illnesses and advanced age, would face greater risks if moved, according to the agency.

Profepa conducted two inspections on August 11 and 12 to assess the conditions at the facility, which has been closed since October 2025. The agency's priority is to ensure the dolphins' welfare and improve the environmental conditions of their current enclosure. A case-by-case evaluation, involving specialists, will determine if and when any of the dolphins can be transferred to another location, a move deemed not feasible at present.

The situation has improved. The measures ordered in terms of cleaning the ponds to prevent the proliferation of algae and the presence of microorganisms that increase the damage suffered by the specimens have been complied with, and the water quality complies with the regulations.

— ProfepaRegarding the improvements made at the dolphin facility.

The situation gained attention following images released by the organization Veeleaf, which raised concerns about the dolphins' health and the water quality in their enclosure. Profepa stated that measures ordered for cleaning the tanks to prevent algae and microorganism proliferation have been met, and the water quality complies with regulations.

Regarding the health of the nine Tursiops aduncus dolphins, named Apolo, Flex, Diego, Mincho, Oceanía, Solei, Solomon, Saty, and Squalo, Profepa described their prognosis as "reserved." Several dolphins exhibit serious health issues. For instance, Apolo and Flex have inflammation in their right corneas, while Diego suffers from corneal inflammation in both eyes, partial caudal fin loss, and severe chronic dental abrasion. The facility is operated by Dolphin Discovery, which later changed its name to Dolphinaris and is now known as Dolphin Connection Cancún.

The prognosis is reserved, as they suffer from serious illnesses and are of advanced age.

— ProfepaDescribing the health status of the nine dolphins.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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