Dolphin captivity concerns grow in Cyprus

Concerns continue to grow over potential plans to build a dolphin park in Cyprus. The country’s Agriculture Minister, Nicos Kouyialis has reportedly told local media that foreign investor applications for the licensing of a dolphin park in Cyprus are being ‘seriously considered’.

Previous attempts to build facilities have been rejected by Cypriot authorities.  In 1997 a Ministerial decree was passed prohibiting whale and dolphin shows and the use of whales and dolphins for commercial purposes in Cyprus. It is thought that any new applications to build a dolphin park may be made on the grounds that these shows are somehow educational.

Whales and dolphins are ordinarily intelligent, social animals that live in groups in the wild and carry out a myriad of tasks throughout daily life that are simply impossible in captivity. Most of the knowledge gained from carrying out research in the captive environment may not be applicable to the conservation of these animals in the wild.