Six Flags Mexico Shamed as Second Worst Aquarium in Mexico

10 Worst Tanks List for Dolphins and Whales Announced

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CONTACT: Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., toni@idausa.org, (+1) 805-836-0496

Mexico City (July 20, 2016) – International animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals, today released its list of the Ten Worst Tanks for Dolphins and Whales in North America, with Six Flags Mexico shamed as the second worst in Mexico. The facility is listed for treating dolphins as “just another ride” and appears as the sixth facility on the list, making it the second worst in Mexico behind Puerto Aventuras in Quinta Roo.

The Ten Worst Tanks list exposes and represents the misery and suffering of some of the oceans’ most intelligent and complex mammals in captivity. Whales and dolphins are subject to astonishing rates of premature death, captivity-related injuries, forced removal of babies from mothers, and solitary isolation. Many are confined to swimming endless circles in cramped tanks, deprived of healthy social groups, and forced to endure invasive reproduction techniques, polluted water, dangerous transport, and brutal exploitation of their sociable natures through “swim” and “petting” programs.

The list was selected from over 60 facilities from southern Canada to Mexico where almost 1,000 whales and dolphins are held captive for public display.

“Six Flags Mexico treats dolphins as just another ride at this amusement park, which plumbs the depths in its exploitation of intelligent and sensitive animals,” said In Defense of Animals President, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “Even with the most modern technology, veterinary care, and infrastructure, cetaceans still suffer intensely in captivity and exhibit surprisingly high mortality rates. Please help protect dolphins and whales in the wild where they belong, by pledging to never visit facilities that imprison them.”

Six Flags Mexico’s Shame

Six Flags Mexico was previously known as Reino Aventura and famous for holding Keiko, the orca used in “Free Willy”. It now holds bottlenose dolphins captive in a barren tank set in the middle of a major clamorous amusement park. The dolphins are coerced to perform circus acts to crowds as loud music blares while audiences are misinformed that captive dolphins actually enjoy their artificial lives.

The dolphins are also used in swim-programs, where they are trained to perform contrived behaviors that simulate affection and sociability towards the paying public. As in other Dolphin Discovery parks, dolphins are coerced to give rides where people grab and hang onto their dorsal and pectoral fins and to give “kisses,” “hugs” and “handshakes.”

On the surface, swimming with captive-born dolphins may seem preferable to using dolphins captured from the wild. But captive-born dolphins face their own unique vulnerabilities. Dolphins born in captivity – especially those used in swim-programs – are often forcibly separated from their mothers at an unnaturally young age and trained to obey human commands, reinforced by and dominated through the control of their food. Research indicates that captive-born dolphins may exhibit more aggression towards human swimmers perhaps due to psychological traumatization from premature breaking of mother-calf bonds.

Six Flags Mexico is owned by Dolphin Discovery, a Mexican company that owns at least 24 dolphin captivity facilities internationally, including third entry, Puerto Aventuras. In Defense of Animals examined the limited available data since 2012 and found only one death reported for all of Mexico, though there are around 400 captive dolphins in the country. This is not a realistic level of mortality and shows an appalling lack of oversight and formal recordkeeping. Six Flags Mexico Dolphin Discovery is a disturbing example of what happens when dolphins are abused for our amusement.

10 WORST TANKS:

1. SeaWorld, San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; Orlando, Florida
2. Marineland, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
3. Puerto Aventuras Dolphin Discovery, Mayan Riviera, Quinta Roo, Mexico
4. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia
5. Miami Seaquarium, Miami, Florida
6. Six Flags Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
7. Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, Mississippi and Unnamed new facility planned by same owner also in Gulfport, Mississippi
8. Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
9. Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
10. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois

Dishonorable Mention:
Dophinaris, Scottsdale, Arizona

Honorable Mention:
National Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland

### NOTES ###

The Ten Worst Tanks list was produced over the past year by multiple cetacean experts and scientists to represent the myriad horrors faced by cetaceans in captivity. Facilities were examined and investigated in-person; through review of government records, veterinary records, and death reports; and via image and data documentation.

In Defense of Animals also produces the respected Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants List, now in its twelfth year: http://www.idausa.org/2015tenworstzoos

For more information please visit: www.idausa.org/10WorstTanks

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In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization located in San Rafael, Calif. dedicated to protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitats through education, outreach, and our hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • (+1) 415-448-0048