Background

In November 2006, Merlin Entertainments, operators of Sea Life Centres in the UK announced their acquisition of Italian theme park, Gardaland, which runs one of Europes largest captive dolphin shows. The Marine Connection immediately raised our concerns with Merlin who previously had adopted a strict policy that no captive cetaceans were to be held at any of their premises.

Since the purchase, the Marine Connection has been liaising with the company regarding the future of the dolphins who still perform at Gardaland.

Merlin Entertainments are just one of several companies who hold interests in facilities within the UK, whilst cointinuing to profit from captive cetaceans via their ownership of other facilities in Europe that house these animals.

Read Merlin Entertainments statement

Following their acquisiton of Gardaland, in 2007 Merlin Entertainments also acquired the Tussauds Group whose facilities include Heidepark Soltau in Germany which currently houses a dolphin pool.

The Marine Connection has not received any confirmation with regards to Merlin’s plans for any of these animals; whether they intend to keep them in the existing facilities or indeed in captivity at all. In their statement, released in April 2008, Merlin proclaim that; “The company has very clear policies relating to which species we believe can prosper in captivity, and the overall care of the creatures in all the aquariums. We fundamentally oppose the keeping of dolphins in captivity.”

The Marine Connection feel that Merlin Entertainments now have two options; either find an alternative to keeping the dolphins at the facilities they have acquired or changing their company policy as this latest acquisition of captive dolphins is quite clearly in direct conflict with their claimed company policy.

It is inappropriate for Merlin Entertainment to advertise themselves as opposing the keeping of cetaceans in captivity when they continue to profit from the captive cetaceans which remain at both Gardaland and Heidepark Soltau.