Dominican Republic

Ocean World Adventure Park

Many Tour Operators including TUI-UK and MyTravel (Airtours) sell excursions to this facility believing it to be better than the notorious Manati Park.

Manati Park
This facility has a notoriously poor reputation amongst international animal welfare groups with regards to dolphin welfare and several of their dolphins have died.

Despite this poor reputation, Manati Park was keen to import further dolphins for use within the "swim with the dolphin" programmes promoted by cruise ships which frequent the Island regularly.

These requests for four further dolphins have now been denied by the Dominican government and there is hope within environmental groups that this will mean that Manati Park will have to close down. The dolphins were to be imported from Cuba where there is significant concern over the continued captures of dolphins from the wild to supply dolphinariums.

A forward-thinking and responsible decision made by the Dominican Republic government, this result is applauded by the Marine Connection and will ultimately ensure the future of the Dominican Republic as an ethical and environmentally-friendly Island.

Image: © Helene O'Barry / One Voice