Mexico’s Senate unanimously voted to ban shows featuring dolphins and other marine mammals. The new law prohibits the use of these animals for entertainment and for breeding, except for scientific research.
The initiative came as the result of years of campaigning by animal protection groups and the public. The decisive momentum was given by the case of the dolphin Mincho, which was injured during a performance in 2020. The incident sparked widespread public outrage and became the basis for the adopted “Mincho Law.”
Along with ending shows and breeding, the state will now provide oversight of the conditions in which about 350 dolphins are kept in captivity. Environmental protection authorities have stepped up inspections of facilities and impose penalties on violators.
Mexico became the seventh country to implement a complete ban on dolphin shows and on keeping them in captivity for entertainment purposes. The authorities say that attitudes toward animals reflect a society’s maturity.
