Update (May 13, 2025): The Dolphinarium at Hotel Barceló, owned by the same company that operates the Miami Seaquarium, has been permanently closed by Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA). This decision follows intense pressure from local organizations like Animal Heroes, and the support of PETA Latino.

The closure was announced by the chief of PROFEPA on social media, citing multiple violations and incidents that led to this action. One of the key incidents involved a dolphin named Mincho, who suffered an injury on November 28, 2020. Despite a veterinarian’s recommendation for two weeks of rest, Mincho was put back to work just two days later.

Further investigations revealed that the Dolphinarium failed to report Mincho’s health status monthly to PROFEPA, did not have authorization for dolphin performances, and frequently exceeded the permitted number of humans in the pool with the dolphins.

These violations, along with the deaths of other dolphins, Alex and Plata, in 2024, highlighted the facility’s disregard for animal welfare.

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