The Marine connection has for some time had concerns over tour operators selling excursions to captive dolphin facilities, many of which house wild caught animals. We were especially concerned that TUI/Thomson continue to sell and profit from these facilities being one of the partners in the 'Year of the Dolphin' initiative.

The “Year of the dolphin” initiative highlights the many dangers dolphins face in the wild. The initiative also recognises that one of the threats to dolphins are “deliberate hunts that are most likely not sustainable”.

The Marine Connection therefore feels that it is a travesty for TUI to continue to promote and advertise their extraordinary efforts to stop unnecessary captures of dolphins when they and their sister companies Thomson, First Choice and others continue to actively profit from selling excursions to their customers to facilities which have dolphins captured from the wild.

Earlier this month we reported that Thomson/TUI-UK were promoting a facility in Turkey that keeps four wild caught dolphins in appalling conditions - they have since ceased selling to this facility following complaints from organisations like the Marine Connection and the general public.

It has now also been revealed that Thomson/TUI are also promoting to their customers excursions to the Palm Atlantis resort in Dubai, a facility that purchased and imported 28 Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins taken from the wild in Solomon Islands waters in 2007. Background details & updates

Take action

Urge the company to cease their promotion of Palm Atlantis as part of their commitment to “Year Of The Dolphin” initiative which works to eliminate threats to wild dolphins or to stand down as partners until they stop profiting from facilities which hold dolphins taken from the wild.