Profepa Closes Dolphinaris Cancún Over Dolphin Welfare Concerns

Mexico's environmental watchdog, Profepa, has shut down the Dolphinaris Cancún facility, citing concerns over the welfare of its dolphins. The agency has imposed measures to ensure the animals receive adequate housing, improved water quality, and proper medical attention before the establishment can reopen.

The facility currently houses nine adult Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, comprising two females and seven males. Profepa noted that these dolphins are suffering from various illnesses, some of which are severe, making their immediate transfer difficult. Daily monitoring by veterinarians, including clinical evaluations and monthly lab tests, is in place. The facility also has personal training and environmental enrichment programs for each dolphin, with external specialists in marine mammal medicine and animal welfare being brought in to enhance the overall assessment.

Profepa is continuously monitoring water quality, checking parameters like pH, salinity, temperature, and coliform levels against the NOM-135-SEMARNAT-2004 standards. This ongoing oversight aims to ensure that the required conditions are consistently maintained. The agency stated it will maintain continuous follow-up on the implementation of these measures and the health status of the dolphins.