Profepa clears 6 dolphins for relocation from shuttered Cancún dolphinarium

Six of the nine dolphins currently residing at the previously operational Dolphin Discovery facilities in Cancún, Quintana Roo, are being considered for a possible relocation process, according to a report by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa). This development follows concerns over the health and well-being of the dolphins, which have been under the care of Mexico’s environmental authority since the dolphinarium closed in October last year following the release of distressing videos.

The nine dolphins – comprising two females and seven males – are in fragile clinical condition, necessitating an individualized approach for any potential transfer. Since May, Profepa has been working to stabilize the dolphins through regular veterinary checkups, laboratory tests, and monitoring their behavior, feeding habits, and responses to treatment.

Despite these efforts, animal rights activist groups, including Veeleaf and Tide Breakers, have raised concerns about the dolphins' living conditions. They have shared images and videos showing the dolphins confined to small pools, receiving insufficient food, and exposed to constant sunlight with no shade.

The future of these dolphins is contingent upon a recent reform that aims to revamp the operations of dolphinariums in Mexico. In July 2025, the Mexican Senate unanimously approved a nationwide ban on dolphin and marine mammal shows, as well as the captive breeding of marine mammals, with exceptions for conservation purposes. The new regulations mandate the transfer of cetaceans to marine pens, which are ocean enclosures designed to gradually reintroduce the dolphins to their natural habitat, while also limiting interactions with those already under human care.

However, these regulations are still pending the publication of application criteria, leaving the nine dolphins in the same pools they have inhabited for years. The organization Empty the Tanks is advocating for temporary transfers of the dolphins to existing marine pools at Dolphin Discovery facilities in Isla Mujeres and Cozumel.

They argue for a transition to a more natural environment supplemented by proper care, rather than an immediate release into the ocean. Profepa emphasizes that all decisions are aimed at ensuring the dolphins' best possible well-being and alleviating their suffering, stating that moving them to a semi-open enclosure at sea would improve their situation, but immediate action is necessary to prevent further harm.