Dolphin Death at Barceló Resort Under Official Investigation

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has launched an investigation into the Dolphinaris Barceló dolphinarium, located within the Barceló Hotel in Puerto Aventuras, following the death of a dolphin named Plata and the suspected demise of another named Alex.

On January 24, Profepa requested that TAGEPA S.A.P.I. de C.V., the company operating the dolphinarium, submit essential documents. These include the notification to the Directorate General of Wildlife (DGVS) of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) regarding Plata’s death, authorization for Alex’s transfer, and any related reports. The deadline for this submission was January 31, 2025.

The investigation encompasses a thorough review of Dolphinaris Barceló’s operations. Profepa has also requested additional information from the DGVS, such as the dolphinarium’s registration as a Wildlife Management Facility (PIMVS), its approved management plan, annual reports from 2018 to 2024, inventories of housed wildlife, medical records and necropsies for animal arrivals and departures, and permits for the transfer of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), among other documents.

Mariana Boy Tamborrell, head of Profepa, stated that the investigation aims to ensure the dolphinarium complies with legal obligations to guarantee the well-being of the animals, prevent mismanagement, and avert potential illegal wildlife trafficking. She emphasized, “With the gathered documentation, this Office will determine if there are violations and proceed to impose the corresponding sanctions.”

In response, the organization Dolphins Freedom MX has called for the closure of Dolphinaris Barceló after a video surfaced on January 29, allegedly showing animal mistreatment. The footage depicts three dolphins performing acrobatics under a trainer’s guidance when one miscalculates a jump, landing on the tank’s concrete edge with great force. The disturbing video can be seen here.

The impact appears to have left the approximately 250-kilogram dolphin severely injured and disoriented. Activists fear the dolphin may have died due to the severity of the injury. While the affected dolphin’s identity remains unconfirmed, animal rights advocates insist on a thorough investigation.

Additionally, activists allege irregularities in Dolphinaris’s management, claiming that when a dolphin dies, the company replaces the animal by swapping its microchip, complicating identification and tracking. They also highlight the unexplained disappearance of a dolphin named Kala.

The activists urge Profepa to take action to clarify the situation with the dolphins and request that authorities verify each animal’s identification through comprehensive records of dorsal fins and microchip numbers, rather than relying solely on information provided by Dolphinaris. They stated in a communiqué, “It is unacceptable for Profepa to allow these negligent practices. We demand the immediate closure of the dolphinarium.”

The Municipal Government of Solidaridad released this official statement regarding the death and subsequent investigation. The translation can be found below.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

To the residents of Solidaridad:

Regarding the events that have been reported on social media about the death of a dolphin at the Barceló Riviera Maya Hotel, we want to inform you that our Secretariat of the Environment is in communication with the State Secretariat of the Environment, which has taken on the case and is providing follow-up along with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa).

We acknowledge the coordinated efforts of federal and state agencies in addressing this case, as well as the intervention of the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Quintana Roo within the scope of its jurisdiction. As the Municipality of Solidaridad, we join this cause through our Secretariat of the Environment, with a firm commitment to a core issue: respect for animal welfare and the fight against animal mistreatment.

It is important to note that, according to the Penal Code of Quintana Roo and the state’s Animal Protection and Welfare Law, the State Government may file a complaint if it is determined that there was mistreatment or negligence in the death of the dolphin. The Animal Protection and Welfare Law of Quintana Roo states in Article 3, Section XV, that this regulation also applies to species in aquariums and dolphinariums, reinforcing the need for a rigorous investigation and the possible assignment of responsibility.

We will not allow these events to go unnoticed. Therefore, we will work on developing proposals and public policies that we will present to the State Secretariat of the Environment to strengthen necessary inspections, regulations, and protocols, with the aim of preventing such incidents from happening again—not only in Solidaridad but throughout Quintana Roo.

Our municipality has a deep commitment to life and animal welfare. We will continue promoting firm and coordinated actions to ensure their protection and encourage a responsible coexistence model with our natural environment.

Because the right to human entertainment should never come at the cost of a living being’s life.

Government of Solidaridad