Wetenschappers en experts pleiten voor Nederlands uitdoofbeleid voor dolfijnen

Dolphins are among the world's most intelligent and socially complex mammals. ¹Hooker, S. 2009. Toothed whales, overview. Pp. 1252-1260, In: W.F. Perrin, B. Wursig, and J.K. Thewissen (eds.) Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (2nd edition), Academic Press: New York, NY. 1316 pp; Mann, J., Connor, R.C., Tyack, P.L., and Whitehead, H. (eds.) 2000. Cetacean Societies, University of Chicago Press: Chicago. 433 pp; Marino, L., Butti, C., Connor, R.C., Fordyce, R.E., Herman, L.M., Hof, P.R., Lefebvre, L., Lusseau, D., McCowan, B., Nimchinsky, E.A., Pack, A.A., Reidenberg, J.S., Reiss. D., Rendell, L., Uhen, M.D., Van der Gucht, E., and Whitehead, H. 2008. A claim in search of evidence: reply to Manger’s thermogenesis hypothesis of cetacean brain structure. Biol. Rev. 83: 417-440.
They have very sophisticated social, spatial and cognitive needs. Dolfinaria and zoos can not fulfil to those needs.²Clubb, R. and Mason, M. 2003. Captivity effects on wide-ranging carnivores. Nature 425: 473-474;
Forcada, J. 2009. Distribution. Pp. 327-333, In: W.F. Perrin, B. Wursig, and J.K. Thewissen (eds.) Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (2nd edition), Academic Press: New York, NY. 1316 pp;
Jett, J. and Ventre, J. 2012. Orca (Orcinus orca) captivity and vulnerability to mosquito-transmitted viruses. J. Mar. Animals Ecol. 5: 9-16;
Jett, J. and Ventre, J. 2015. Captive killer whale (Orcinus orca) survival. Mar. Mamm. Sci. 31: 1362-1377;
Small, R.J. and DeMaster, D.P. 1995. Survival of five species of captive marine mammals. Mar. Mamm. Sci. 11: 209-226;
Ugaz, C., Valdez, R.A., Romano, M.C., and Galindo, F. 2013. Behavior and salivary cortisol of captive dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) kept in open and closed facilities. J. Vet. Beh. 8: 285-290.

For more than 80 years dolphins have been captured from the wild and put on display. At the time, our understanding of their behavior and natural environment was limited. However, since the 1960s, the natural habitat of dolphins has been extensively studied. These studies have radically changed our insights of their behaviors, social structure, intelligence and needs. With that knowledge we have now, it is clear that captivity is incompatible with the wellbeing and interests of these animals.

Shows and interactions create an unrealistic image of dolphins in the wild and do not contribute to nature conservation. The negative impact on the wellbeing of individual animals raises ethical concerns. More and more countries are banning or restricting dolphinariums as a result of the new insights and a changed attitude in society. In the Netherlands as well the support for Dolfinarium is crumbling: three-quarters³IPSOS, Wat vinden Nederlanders van het Dolfinarium?, Onderzoeksrapport voor World Animal Protection, 10 augustus 2023 of the Dutch population sees no future in the Dolfinarium in its current form.

In view of current insights and declining public support, the time has come for structural change. It is time for a responsible phase-out policy in the Netherlands, with animal welfare as a starting point.