Shame on the third French zoo for dolphins

I was a bit disconnected from France and the latest topics concerning captivity and marine zoos.

I had been following the dossier on "Planète Sauvage", a safari park located in Port-Saint-Père in the heart of the Loire Atlantique region (near Nantes, France), and was dismayed to learn of the creation of a dolphin tank.

My friend from France, Jean Pierre Sidois, Director of the association SOS Grand Bleuwhom I have supported for over 10 years, wrote the following:

"From the outset, we have had the unconditional support of all national and international associations for the protection of animals and nature. On the strength of this support, we will go all the way.

And yet we learn that the Prefect of the Loire-Atlantique region has given the go-ahead for the importation of 5 dolphins into the Port-Saint-Père zoo. Three of them come from Parc Astérix, a zoo north of Paris (France), where I published a report on dolphins in 1996. "Captivity conditions at Parc Astérix"..

No doubt I know these dolphins, unless most of them are already dead.

The St Père zoo was visited by 225,000 people in 2007, but is now stabilizing. To aim higher, its director, Mr Philippe Vignault, is betting heavily on the arrival of the dolphins.

It's outrageous to open another zoo, even if these dolphins come from other dolphinariums (were they born in captivity?).

All over the world, we're lucky enough to be able to observe them and enjoy the best that nature has to offer.

My opinion has not changed since 1996.

My travels and my encounters with these marine mammals in their natural environment have made me realize that these animals, like other marine animals, deserve to be protected in their environment and not kept in a tank.

Thank you for reading.