Cayman Islands

Two separate dolphin entertainment facilities have been granted planning permission for the Cayman Islands.

Dolphin Discovery (Cayman) Ltd. is a franchise with headquarters in Mexico and is to be located at the site of the old Turtle Farm in West Bay, as part of Boatswain's Beach, but privately run. Dolphin Cove Cayman is associated with Dolphin Cove Jamaica and is to be located south of Calypso Grill in Batabano, West Bay, by the North Sound.

It was proposed that eight dolphins for Dolphin Discovery were to come from their sister park in Cancun, Mexico however it was initally unclear whether this would hinder Dolphin Discovery (Cayman) Ltd. as the Mexican Government had put into effect their amended Wildlife Law, saying that effective immediately the "Importation, exportation, and re-exportation of specimens of any marine mammal or primate species are prohibited". However, later reports have shown that the day before the Mexican ban a permit was authorised for the export of 30 dolphins, including eight bottlenose dolphins for the Cayman Islands.

It is understood that the dolphins for Dolphin Cove Cayman will come from Cuba where dolphins have notoriously been wild-caught for the supply of dolphinariums. The campaign in opposition to these captive facilities goes on.

Image:© Cliodhna McGowan, Caymanian Compass