The recent news that four dolphins, Aries, Onyx, Ripley, and Zo, have finally left the crumbling tanks of the Miami Seaquarium is a moment we at In Defense of Animals view with both relief and deep sorrow.

For decades, activists have campaigned against Miami Seaquarium, a facility notorious for its history of animal welfare violations and the tragic life and death of the orca Tokitae (Lolita). Seeing fewer dolphins in those concrete cells is undoubtedly a victory. However, the next chapter for these intelligent, sentient beings is far from the peaceful retirement they deserve.

While the Miami Seaquarium has shuttered its doors to the public, these four dolphins were not sent to a seaside sanctuary where they could experience the natural rhythms of the ocean. Instead, they were relocated to Dolphin Life in Key Largo, Florida, a facility where they will once again be exploited for human entertainment. Dolphin Life is a "swim-with" attraction. This means that after a lifetime of performing at Miami Seaquarium, these dolphins will be forced to interact with a constant stream of tourists.

These dolphins are denied the choice of who they interact with and are forced into close contact with human strangers for profit. Captivity itself causes significant distress because no tank or lagoon can replicate the vastness of the ocean, where dolphins would naturally swim up to 100 miles a day. Furthermore, forcing these powerful wild animals into "play" scenarios with humans presents safety risks for both the animals and the human participants.

Cetaceans belong in the wild, not in tanks or "swim-with" pens. For those who cannot be released due to a lifetime in captivity, the only ethical solution is a seaside sanctuary, a place where their well-being is the sole priority, not their ability to entertain a paying audience.

The relocation of Aries, Onyx, Ripley, and Zo is a reminder that our work is far from over. We will continue to fight until every tank is empty and every dolphin is free from the cycle of exploitation.