Today World Animal Protection staff and supporters were outside the offices of Expedia Group, calling for the company to stop promoting and selling tickets for dolphin experiences.
Expedia Group offer tickets to demeaning shows that exploit dolphins, therefore profiting from the suffering of 500 dolphins in captivity at 32 entertainment venues across the globe.
Australia has one of the world’s largest captive dolphin venues: Sea World on the Gold Coast which houses over 30 dolphins, most of which were born and bred there.
World Animal Protection were positioned at the front of Expedia Group’s Sydney headquarters at Martin Place during peak hour this morning to educate the public on dolphin tourism. An inflatable pool and mock dolphins were brought as props to signify the thousands of dolphins that suffer in venues around the world.
World Animal Protection, Senior Campaigns Manager, Ben Pearson said:
“Dolphin entertainment is animal cruelty masquerading as wholesome family fun. These highly intelligent and sociable wild animals are imprisoned for up to 50 years in small, barren tanks.
“Companies like Expedia Group and Flight Centre that sell tickets to these shows are cashing in on cruelty.
“Major travel brands like TripAdvisor, Virgin Holidays, British Airways Holidays andBooking.com have already shown leadership and cut ties – now it’s time for others to follow suit,” Mr Pearson added.
“That’s why we are calling on Expedia Group and the remaining travel companies that are still lagging behind to end the sale of tickets to dolphin shows, so we can ensure these are the last generation of dolphins in captivity.”
In their natural environment, dolphins swim 100 square kilometres of ocean freely, sometimes much more, but at Sea World and other dolphin entertainment venues they are held in tiny, barren, often chlorinated tanks– all in the name of entertainment and profit.
More than 22,000 people from Australia and New Zealand have signed World Animal Protection’s petition calling on the Queensland Government to ban captive breeding at Sea World.
Last month World Animal Protection released a global report lifting the lid on the multi-billion dollar dolphin tourism industry. The Behind the Smile report is the most comprehensive assessment of captive dolphins to date and reveals that globally:
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There are 336 dolphin entertainment venues in 54 countries which imprison at least 3,029 dolphins for up to 50 years;
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These captive dolphins annually generate a staggering 1.1 to 5.5 billion USD for the venue owners – additional income of merchandise, food and accommodation is an even greater revenue for them.
Join the movement to call on Expedia Group to end the promotion and ticket sales to venues that use dolphins for entertainment, so we can ensure this is the last generation of dolphins in captivity.
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