WDC report presented to Italian government

WDC’s report on whales and dolphins kept in captivity in the European Union has been presented at the Italian parliament in Rome as part of a joint campaign with other organisations to raise awareness of the cruelty issues surrounding dolphin captivity in Italy.

There are currently five dolphinaria in Italy holding 26 bottlenose dolphins. One of these facilities, Rimini dolphinarium is currently the subject of legal proceedings over accusations of ill treatment of the dolphins and is closed to the public. The dolphins have been transferred to the Genoa Aquarium.

Italy has fairly strict standards for the keeping of bottlenose dolphins in captivity but investigations suggest these are not being enforced. WDC analysis of the dolphin shows at three of Italy’s dolphinaria indicates that that there is little to no educational content in the messaging provided to the public.

WDC is calling on all Member States of the EU to work towards an end to the keeping of dolphins in captivity by prohibiting captive breeding, the import of further dolphins and the development of new dolphinaria.