Sixteen organisations are collaborating to demand that the zoo licence of Mediterraneo Marine Park is revoked and ultimately – the park closed.

In a joint statement, the organisation said that, “this comes following the shocking news of the gross negligence by the park, which cost the life of three dolphins, and the shameful actions of the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation Division (VRD).”

The listed NGOs said that they “feel the need to raise their voices” – Moviment Graffitti, Animal Liberation Malta, Association for Abandoned Animals (AAA), Island Sanctuary, Animal Protectors Malta, Nature Trust Malta, Real Animal Rights Foundation (RAR), Extinction Rebellion Malta, Animal Guardians Malta, CSAF, Dolphin Project, Marine Connection UK, MSPCA, Noah’s Ark Sanctuary, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar and BICREF.

The organisations said that they “fail to understand how the government was bold enough to ban animal circuses in 2014 but continues to issue the licence for Mediterraneo to operate under the pretext of a zoo, when clearly the Marine Park offers constant circus-like animal performances.”

They argued that “it is unacceptable that the Marine Park is allowed to stay open and operate, despite the fact that the animals in the park are treated like circus animals forced to perform for entertainment and profit, and especially with the news of the deaths of these three dolphins, which could have easily been avoided were it not for the negligence shown at the Marine Park.”

They went on to say that the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation Division (VRD) concluded that the deaths were “a pure accident”, telling the Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare that they fell victim to poisoning from lead pellets that entered their tank “presumably from diving equipment gear, abandoned in the sea near the aspiration valves outside the tank.”

“This claim was contradicted by the Marine Park, which admitted that lead pellets were introduced to the dolphins’ tank by a sub-contracted diver and a strictly prohibited backwash procedure caused them to enter the tank,” the organisations said. “In the most egregious fashion, then, the VRD lied to the Commissioner for Animal Welfare to cover up the negligence and outright illegalities conducted by the Marine Park, despite the Park’s own admission.”

They pointed out that “to make things worse, the Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare’s investigation concluded that the VRD’s own “fleeting and cursory” investigation was only carried out after the Commissioner’s inquiries and countless emails sent, nine months after the dolphins’ deaths.”

The organisations added that, “the investigation revealed that the VRD did absolutely nothing in response to the three dolphins’ deaths, allowing the Marine Park to “go about its business as usual” up until it was time to conduct the basic inspection necessary to re-issue its licence. It further concluded that “a degree of negligence was involved on more than one occasion,” as attested to by the park’s own statement.”

“Considering the proven and self-admitted negligence at the park leading to the deaths of these three dolphins, and the objectionable use of these captured animals as entertainment while operating under a misleading zoo licence, we call on the VRD and the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Welfare, Alicia Bugeja Said, to take responsibility, revoke the zoo licence and close the doors of Mediterraneo Marine Park,” the organisations said.

“Additionally, we want an immediate stop to the importation, breeding and exploitation of dolphins that are being held in captivity and to prevent further deaths, abuse, and negligence,” they added.

The organisations insisted that the Maltese authorities “should follow the precedent set by their Greek counterparts within the Prefecture of Attica, who revoked the operating licence of the marine mammal facility for dolphins at Attica Zoological Park. In Greece, just as in Malta, the law prohibits all kinds of animal performances, including shows in zoological parks.”

The organisations suggested that the establishment be changed into a rehabilitation centre for aquatic creatures with the location of the park being perfect for this use due to its proximity to the coast.

“Malta would have the opportunity to create a foundation of marine animal care, while the remaining dolphins should have the opportunity to be rehoused in a sea pen to live a more natural life and to stop being used and exploited as a form of entertainment,” they said.

The sixteen organisations concluded by saying “our demands should be considered and discussed further with Maltese authorities and cetacean experts, to bring an end to the circus-like performances and mistreatment of wildlife.”

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