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July, 2004

Advocates call for a dolphinarium-free Belgium

Dolphin advocates are urging Belgium's leaders to take a strong stance for animal welfare by making Belgium dolphinarium-free. GAIA Belgium, a WSPA member society, is issuing a call to action in support of an upcoming peaceful day of protest at the Boudewijnpark in the city of Bruges. Boudewijnpark is the last remaining captive dolphin facility in Belgium and advocates are making a push to close its doors permanently.

Captive dolphin programs are inherently cruel and offer no valid educational or therapeutic benefits. For these reasons, advocates are demanding the following steps be taken to make Belgium dolphinarium-free:

 
  • All relevant information, health records and statistics concerning the dolphins born, currently living at, deceased or transferred from Boudewijnpark must be turned over for review.
 

 
  • A plan is created to ensure the quickest route towards shutting down the Boudewijnpark permanently.
 
  • A strategy for the rehabilitation and release, whether back to the sea or into a sanctuary, be put in place for the dolphins living at the Boudewijnpark.

Adding to the urgency of this situation is the fact that Boudewijnpark has recently been acquired by a Spanish consortium called ASPRO OCIO. ASPRO OCIO claims to be the leader of the marine park industry in Europe with marine parks in Switzerland, Portugal, Spain and now Belgium. The consortium has ownership of over 22,500 animals including dolphins and Siberian tigers.