Animal activists block entrances to Dolfinarium
Several dozen animal rights activists have been blocking the entrances to the Dolfinarium in Harderwijk since 09:50 a.m. on Saturday, the Bite Back foundation reports. The activists from Bite Back and Active for Justice are demonstrating because they believe that the animals at the Dolfinarium live in poor conditions.
Nu: activisten van Bite Back, Active for Justice en Animal Rebellion Noord bij het Dolfinarium. Een deel van hen heeft zich vastgeketend aan de 6 toegangspoorten. Daaromheen staan actievoerders met spandoeken en worden flyers uitgedeeld. De actie is georganiseerd door Bite Back. pic.twitter.com/UXNaodJpTp
— Doorbraak Eu (@Doorbraakeu) October 19, 2024
Some of the activists have tied themselves to the entrance gates with steel pipes, and some are also wearing dolphin costumes. The activists are carrying banners, protest signs, and flyers.
A spokesperson for Bite Back gives the example of 3-meter-long Steller sea lions sitting in a 1.60-meter-deep pool. “We find this unacceptable. It is not for nothing that the Dolfinarium was recently excluded from the European trade association.” According to the foundation, the Dolfinarium also still allows trainers to surf on the noses of dolphins and sea lions to wave their flippers at the public. “This violates the agreements made with the government. We believe that now is the time to close this park and give the animals an animal-friendly future.”
The activists plan to continue the protest for as long as possible, and they say they will not stop if the Dolfinarium opens a side entrance. “With this action, we want to expose the fate of the animals in a playful and highly visible way. If you care about the animals, don't visit this park,” the spokesperson said.
The Dolfinarium did not say anything about the action on Saturday morning, so it is unclear whether visitors will be able to enter.
Reporting by ANP