The dolphinariums

In response to the determination of One Voice and 19 other NGOs, the Government of Saint Lucia (Caribbean) is halting plans to build a new dolphinarium by the operator Dolphin Discovery (Mexico).

The Tribunal de Grande Instance of Nantes grants One Voice's a request for judicial expertise to determine the cause of the death of the dolphin Aïcko, who died alone and at a young age, despite a number of warnings, in a pool at Planète Sauvage (44) in November 2016.

Standing resolute, One Voice is fighting against a draft ministerial order likely to perpetuate the system of marine circuses and activates a strong mobilization. Victory! The ministry gives the right to the animals and prohibits in France the programs of reproduction, exchanges or importation, a suffering which is failing to propagate and will die out...

One Voice is launching an emergency procedure for Femke, the dolphin of Parc Astérix, at the worst since they transferred his only son Ekinox to a Greek dolphinarium. Veterinary expertise requests that the authorities enter into court for an interim of relief before the urgency of a families suffering becomes worse.

Following China's request for the capture of killer whales and other marine mammals in Namibia, One Voice relays the campaign in France of the opposition by the Walvis Bay activists.

Following the birth of two dolphins at Port Sant Père, One Voice calls for the end of the breeding of captive dolphins, and renews its request to close all the dolphinariums in France.

Complementary complaint against Planète Sauvage is filed on November 7th about Aïcko whose condition is dramatic. His death will be announced on November 9th, leading One Voice to ask the Prefect to seize the situation.

Campaign opposing the transfer of two Park Asterix dolphins to a Greek dolphinarium.

Start of action for the dolphin Galeo whose worrying state of health is revealed following an investigation conducted in collaboration with Dr Ingrid Visser. A petition is launched to free him and a complaint is filed.

The investigations into the dolphinariums continue with increased vigilance on the Marineland orcas.

One Voice condemns the dolphinarium project at Beauval Zoo, which will be abandoned.

Publication of a report supporting personhood for cetaceans.

Launch of the campaign for a clause closing down French dolphinariums in the biodiversity law, following the death of Valentin at Marineland in Antibes.

Start of the campaign to obtain recognition of cetaceans as persons.

Weekly distribution of a booklet of the story of the dolphin Iris and a postcard about dolphin sentience throughout Alsace.

One Voice and global cetacean organisations combine to launch the coalition Dolphinaria-Free Europe with the showing of the film Blackfish at the European Parliament in Brussels.

One Voice, as part of the coalition SOSdelfines, joins the campaign against dolphinariums in Spain.

One Voice joins forces with Orka Coalitie and the Free Morgan Foundation for the freeing of Morgan, a very young orca who was lost at sea and taken to a Dutch dolphinarium despite it being against current laws.

An educational pack is drafted on marine circuses.

One Voice organises circles of silence for captive dolphins in three big towns near a dolphinarium : Nantes, Nice and Paris.

One Voice continues its fight to free the Port-Saint-Père dolphins and expands its theatrical demos alongside its court battle.

An audit undertaken by One Voice blows the whistle on dolphinariums : Captive Dolphins – a failed experiment.It is sent to all French MPs and Members of the European Parliament.

When a new dolphinarium project at Port-Saint-Père is announced, One Voice straight away puts together a dossier against it and starts a campaign to raise public awareness with actions such as a circle of silence and theatrical demonstrationsentitled Captive dolphins seek free humans. This results in the issue being taken to a tribunal with judicial proceedings from 2007 till 2009, delaying the opening.

Demonstration to raise public awareness in front of the Japanese embassy.

Ric O'Barry, consultant to One Voice, returns once again to Taiji at the request of Time Magazine Asia. He then embarks on a tour of France to explain to the public the problem of captive marine mammals.

Large demonstration in front of the Japanese embassy on International Dolphin Day.

With the support of the Haitian authorities, One Voice oversees the freeing of six dolphins who had been captured for the leisure industry. The Haitian Environment Ministry was sending a message loud and clear against exploiting dolphins. It just goes to show that there are brave politicians and honourable countries, despite the difficulties encountered.

One Voice continues its investigation in Japan with Ric O'Barry, the former trainer of Flipper, who returns to Taiji accompanied by journalists. A demonstration is organised in front of the Japanese embassy.

Launch of the campaign Dolphin Peace. Dolphinariums engaging in Swim with Dolphins programmes are targeted, notably in the Caribbean in Antigua and Barbuda.

Campaign for Kshamenk, the sole orca in captivity in South America. He is imprisoned in a tiny pool in Argentina where he lives all alone, even though a sea inlet could accommodate him.

An exclusive investigation by One Voice in Japan proves for the first time the link between the Taiji dolphin massacres and the captive dolphin business. The images are broadcast around the world by the BBC in 2004 and then seen by scientists at the 19th European Cetacean Society conference in La Rochelle in 2005, as well as the International Whaling Commission. It's a sledgehammer blow to the international dolphinarium business ! Finally the public sees the scale of the hypocrisy of those who claim to be working to protect cetaceans !

Support for the Mexican Environment Minister who wants to ban captive dolphins in his country. Certain politicians are not afraid to commit to banning captive dolphins.

Mobilisation to ban the continued captivity of dolphins in Costa Rica, following the deaths of several females imported from Spain. Costa Rica goes on to outlaw this in 2005.

The capture of six orcas in Norway, destined for a Japanese aquarium in Nagoya, is prevented. A magnificent victory against the animal slave trade and a family saved !

Mobilisation of the French public against a planned dolphinarium in La Mulatière, near Lyon, which never sees the light of day…

One Voice/Aequalis in partnership with SOS Grand Blue, joined by a group of animal protection organisations, launches a campaign against the opening of a dolphinarium in Port-Saint-Père. We achieve a ban by the Ministry of the Environment on transporting dolphins after six months of intense lobbying !Ten years of sparring follow.