The decree taken on May 7th by the Ministry of the Environment, under the authority of Ségolène Royal, is today attacked before the State Council by the dolphinariums, represented by Marineland Antibes (06), Parc Astérix of Plailly (60) and Planète Sauvage of Port-Saint-Père (44). This action for annulment is doubled by a request for the suspension of the decree, to be judged by the State Council this Monday, July 31st at 10:30 am. In summary, this is to obtain a stay on the implementation of measures to improve the conditions of detention of captive cetaceans ...
False arguments
Remember that the decree in question prohibits the possession of any new cetacean from November 7th and requires changes in the operating conditions for the animals currently held. The owners will argue that these developments (especially the work to enlarge the pools, to be carried out in under 3 years) are too expensive, and if they can be written off just for the life of the few individuals that are already captive. A curious argument from those who claim to have the welfare of cetaceans at the heart of their concerns: the average life expectancy of 20 years lent to the cetaceans concerned is fully compatible with the depreciation value of the work prescribed, particularly in relation to the profit generated by this activity each year.
For One Voice and all the scientific experts working with them, the arguments put forward today by dolphinariums in their actions for an appeal are misleading. To argue that the prohibition of reproductions planned in the context of trade is detrimental to the welfare of dolphins is debatable, even more so by establishments where commercial logic dominates all.
Numerous scientific reports, notably those provided by One Voice to the Ministry, attest that captivity is inherently harmful to the welfare of cetaceans. Cetaceans are made for the open sea and not for concrete ponds. For the association, to see today the marine parks setting themselves up as defenders of the happy sexuality of these captives (if they produce new prisoners, these subjects of attraction), really leaves one wondering.
Voices of the many begin to rise
A world-renowned marine biologist and expert, Dr. Naomi Rose said: “Contrary to industry’s claims, this reproductive ban will not have a significant impact on dolphin welfare – which could even improve. Many centres are already regulating conceptions by separating male and female individuals during their favourable hormonal cycles, checking the levels of hormones in the urine of female dolphins every morning. Without having to physically bear a pregnancy and birth, and without the psychological threat of seeing her new-born die early in an unsuitable concrete pool. These dolphins might even be less stressed than they are now. Is it necessary to recall that captivity already deprives cetaceans of many natural behaviours, in particular their ability to swim in a straight line over long distances, much greater than just a few strokes of the tail. To be able to dive deep, beyond just a few meters, to hunt and to feed oneself. It is no coincidence that the industry talks about dolphin abuse only and not about their ability to produce more exploitable captive dolphins. "
A lawyer for the rights of animals, legal consultant for One Voice, Arielle Moreau adds: "The dolphinariums want to continue to enjoy an absolute property right on these beings and be able to make them work as they please, to exchange them, to control their sexuality and their motherhood, to dispose of their babies and their children at will, without any regard for their desires and needs. They are in denial of their needs and their nature because for them, orcas and dolphins belong to them they are deprived of their own existence and exist only to serve the interests of these commercial companies. Dolphins and orcas are autonomous individuals, highly intelligent and sensitive, they have the right to be protected and recognized as a person. "
Other voices are added to the concert of oppositions to the recourse of the captive industry: John Hargrove, 14 years as a specialized healer, former head of the Orques Marineland Antibes, brings all his support and experience, the suffering experienced by cetaceans in captivity. The testimony given to One Voice by this American specialist, reminds all those interested of the current regulatory framework: "There is no ecological or conservation reason to breed dolphins in captivity and none of those that have been bred in Marineland have been released to repopulate the oceans. This clearly underlines the commercial motivations of the Marineland operation, at a time when the park is trying to evade by all means of the new regulations, which ultimately means the end of the cruel suffering endured by these captive animals. Thank you to everyone in France who fought for such legislation. You are now spearheading the fight that has resumed in other countries, including the United States. "
Finally, Dr. Pierre Gallego, veterinarian-consultant, brings his medical point of view to the record: "Dolphins are extremely intelligent animals that have a very complex social life and hunting techniques that are extremely elaborate. All of these behaviours cannot be accomplished in captivity. In addition, the pools are totally bare, there is no sand, no rocks, no algae, no fish, and the water is chlorinated. Not to mention the depth of the pools which is at the maximum of 5-7 meters, which gives them no opportunity to behave naturally. In addition, captive groups are formed by park managers, which creates synthetic groups, whereas in nature groups are made and disbanded according to the social structure of Tursiops described as fusion / fission. These synthetic groups are frozen and individuals have no opportunity to avoid each other in cases of aggression, which is quite common among dolphins. The result from this is tremendous stress that can lead to gastric ulcers and other health problems, not to mention the wounds dolphins can inflict on themselves and each other, while in nature this could be avoided. "
For all these reasons, One Voice, the French representative of the Dolphinaria-Free Europe coalition, calls on the political and judicial authorities not to question the latest texts regulating this commercial activity. Recalling that controlled reproduction in the pools, by contraceptive means or the management of groups, should only serve the expression of a natural sexuality among the prisoners, not to perpetuate the exploitation of generations of captives in a totally dehumanized logic of financial accounting.
The ministerial decree of May 7th, 2017 gave the dolphins and orcas currently captive real hopes: that of seeing their living conditions substantially improved and especially that of being the last of their species to live in France in this unbearable detention. Ethics, common sense and humanity must continue to prevail over commercial logic.
President of One Voice, Muriel Arnal says: "We are surprised at the sudden urgency invoked by the industry and the timing of these recourses ... in the middle of summer. The ministerial decree of May 7th gives priority to the dignity of sentient beings endowed with cultures and languages, over the economic interests. It must be above all maintained. By putting an end to family rifts and mourning the deaths related to breeding programs, this text will improve the living conditions of dolphins and orcas. And these will be the last detainees in France, so badly deprived of freedom and their fundamental rights. Ethics, common sense and humanity must continue to prevail over commercial logic. "
