Croatia says no to plans for new dolphin facility

The Marine Connection has been supporting a campaign launched by colleagues at Animal Friends in Croatia to halt plans for a new dolphinarium in Vodnjan. We are delighted to report that we have received notification that Klaudio Vitasovic, Mayor of Vodnjan has rejected the plans and construction will not go ahead.

On May 10, upon launching the campaign against the construction of a dolphinarium more than two months ago, our colleagues at Animal Friends Croatia received the official statement from the mayor of Vodnjan, Klaudio Vitasovic.

In his statement, Mr. Vitasovic explains his decision against the construction of the dolphinarium in Vodnjan, saying: "Accepting not only your requests but also the requests of everyone who had advocated that the construction of the dolphinarium be not completed, and accepting new considerations of Aqua Adora representatives, according to which they see the aqua park in a completely different light now, we want to inform you and the general public that the construction of the dolphinarium in the town of Vodnjan will not be carried out.'

The Marine Connection joins with Animal Friends and Ric O’Barry of Earth Island in congratulating the mayor and town council on their decision and we will continue to work with our colleagues to obtain a ban on future importation of dolphins into Croatia.