Seven ways you helped dolphins in 2021

How you helped dolphins in 2021

1. Thanks to your ongoing support, the New South Wales Government introduced a regulation to the Biodiversity Conservation Act that bans dolphin breeding and the importation of dolphins to the state. It leaves Sea World on the Gold Coast as the only dolphin venue in Australia to continue breeding dolphins in captivity.  

2. You supported three new Whale Heritage Sites to protect whales and dolphins, keeping them in the wild where they belong. The Tenerife-La Gomera marine area in southwest Tenerife, Spain, was awarded the prestigious title as the first Whale Heritage Site in Europe, showcasing a great alternative to cruel wildlife attractions. It joined Dana Point, California, USA, the first site in the Americas to be awarded Whale Heritage Site status. And Algoa Bay in South Africa has been awarded the Whale Heritage Site accolade, making South Africa the only country in the world with two accredited sites.  

3. You moved the Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR) to stand up for dolphins. ANVR updated its animal welfare guidelines to state that it is “unacceptable” for travel companies to offer or promote captive dolphin interactions. 

4. You convinced Hawaiian Airlines to end the promotion of captive dolphin venues by removing those venues from their website.   

5. You moved Booking.com to expand their commitment to protecting wildlife. Now, swimming with, and performances by, dolphins and other marine mammals is prohibited. Plus shows and interactions involving elephants, bears, big cats, primates, reptiles and birds of prey will not be promoted either. 

6. Global online travel company Expedia Group has announced it will end its support for whale and dolphin interactions and circus-style performances by prohibiting their sale. Thank you! This change of direction from Expedia Group is testament to your perseverance. More than 350,000 World Animal Protection supporters around the world have been campaigning tirelessly on this issue since 2019, keeping up the pressure on the travel giant to do the right thing. 

7. Hundreds of dolphin defenders attended four peaceful protests outside Sea World on the Gold Coast calling on the venue to end captive dolphin breeding. Sea World is one of the largest dolphinariums in the world and the last venue in Australia to breeding dolphins in captivity.  

Together, we can make this the last generation of dolphins bred in captivity to entertain visitors.  

How you can help dolphins

The tide is turning against the keeping of dolphins in captivity for entertainment.