In September, news broke that four bottlenose dolphins were being kept in a pool in a private villa in Hurghada.

A pool. 

The dolphins, who easily measure nine feet in length, have been living in a pool thirty feet wide and about thirteen feet deep. 

The condition of the water is reported to be so far beyond substandard as to be dangerous — the dolphins have evidenced eye damage because of it. And if you were wondering where these lucky animals were captured from, you win if you guessed Taiji, where the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove was filmed. 

They are tagged for eventual transfer to the Sharm El Sheik dolphinarium once the 105 day quarantine period passes. If, of course, the dolphins survive that long. 

And soon, four future captives of the cruel and profitable Taiji roundups are slated for shipment to Egypt, to rot in tanks at the new Makadi Bay, Hurghada dolphinarium.  Presumably to educate future generations about how cruelly our species behaves towards animals we profess to want to protect. Because what other purpose could capturing wild animals and forcing them to live in tiny, cement, chlorinated fish bowls serve?

It’s sick, it’s sad, it educates no one and hurts many. So tell the Egyptian government that you want this cruelty to stop. 

Photo credit: LaPrimaDonna