New dolphinarium planned for France

Planète Sauvage, a zoo situated between Nantes and Pornic in France, has put forward plans to obtain 12 dolphins for a new dolphinarium. Questionably the Zoo is "justifying" the keeping of these animals by stating research will be undertaken into dolphins' communication abilities. However, this could never justify keeping the wide-ranging and complex animals in an area a fraction of the size of its usual range.

It is the Grevin Group -- owner of dolphinariums in both France and Holland - which is trying to open this dolphinarium in their newly acquired safari park "Planète Sauvage". To confine these animals to an artificial, lifeless tank without currents, live fish or their family pod, in order that they perform for human entertainment is unacceptable. Dolphins, whether born in captivity or captured from the wild, still have the desire to swim hundreds of miles, dive hundreds of feet, use their exceptional echolocation skills to explore their surroundings and catch live fish. Simply, in captivity each one of these abilities and desires are rendered useless.

All captive dolphins, whether born in captivity or taken from the wild, suffer mentally and physically from having their natural, instinctive skills inhibited. Captive dolphins become a caricature of their wild counterparts and simply for the entertainment of humans.

In order to carry out their plans, the Grevin Group must first obtain a permit to keep dolphins at Planète Sauvage.

How you can help:
Please write a short letter to the officials who will decide whether to issue a permit allowing the Grevin Group to exhibit dolphins at Planète Sauvage. Please address your letter to Commissioner Claes and copy in the other two officials.

Click here to read the Marine Connection letter, written in French, encouraging the officials NOT to authorise a permit. Click here for the English translation.

Mairie de Port St Père
Mr. Jean Claes, Commissaire enquêteur
29 rue de Pornic
44710 Port St Père
France

Préfecture de Loire Atlantique
Mr. Bernard Boucault,
Préfet de la Région Pays de la Loire et Préfet de la Loire Atlantique
6 quai Ceineray
44000 Nantes
France

Mairie de Nantes
Mr. Jean Marc Ayrault, Député-Maire
2 rue de l'Hôtel de Ville
44094 Nantes Cedex 1
France