Calls for investigation into Zoomarine, Rome


Less than a year after its' initial opening on 14 September 2005, reports are being received of the death of a young dolphin at this facility. While Zoomarine celebrated the opening of the facility for another season, questions are being asked as to the cause of death of this dolphin and why is has been kept secret from the public. The death occurred sometime in the last few months and although currently we are unsure which animal has died, it must have been a young animal as all animals at the facility are less that 8 years old.

This death makes it clear that dolphin life expectancy is reduced in captivity and this death will become just another statistic for an industry where 1 in 4 dolphins dies within the first year and 50% live less than 7 years.

Furthermore, Zoomarine was allowed to open and continues to operate without the required licence. This contravenes the national law in Italy relating to keeping/exhibiting animals and also means that the authorities allowed the dolphins to be housed there, even although the facility does not meet international laws - CITES appear to have ignored the small fact that this facility is operating without the necessary licence and the animals remain.

The Marine Connection is working alongside Animalisti Italiani and other colleagues to have this case investigated by the Italian Authorities and to calling for the closure of this facility.

Take Action

Help close Zoomarine, Rome. Please write a polite email to the following asking for a case to be brought against Zoomarine. Request that questions be asked as to why this facility has been allowed to operate unlicenced in both local and regional administrations as well as in Parliament and request that the Minister of the Environment, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, immediately intervened due to concern for the continued welfare of the remaining dolphins in this facility.

Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio
Minister of the Enviromental Affairs
e-mail

Livia Turco
Minister of the Health
e-mail

Emma Bonino
Minister of Foreign Commerce
e-mail

Angelo Bonelli
Green Party Leader
e-mail

Cristina Morelli
Green Party Animal Welfare
e-mail

Piero Marrazzo
President of Lazio Region
e-mail

Gianluca Cavino
Green Party Leader (Rome)
e-mail

Enrico Gasbarra
President of Rome Providence
e-mail

Ivano Peduzzi
Group leader "Partito Rifondazione Comunista" Lazio
e-mail

Salvatore Buonadonna
Senator "Partito Rifondazione Comunista"
e-mail

Giovanni Russo Spena
Senator "Rifondazione Comunista"
e-mail

Enrico De Fusco
Mayor of Pomezia City
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photo (c) Emile Chauvin