The marine park has been under severe scrutiny lately due to the confined and circus-like conditions that the dolphins, and other animals, are left to suffer in.

Of course, this is contradictory since Malta is one of the few European countries with a nationwide ban on all animals in circuses.

“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,” the groups frustratingly said.

Moreover, the organisations have suggested closing the park and transforming the establishment into a rehabilitation centre for aquatic creatures, explaining that the park’s proximity to the coast creates the perfect location to create a foundation of marine animal care.

Meanwhile, they said that the remaining dolphins should be rehoused in a sea pen to live a more natural life and most importantly, to stop being “used and exploited as a form of entertainment”.

The Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation Division (VRD) is also being intensely criticised after they concluded that the deaths of the dolphins 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 itself which admitted to introducing lead pellets to the dolphins’ tank by a sub-contracted diver and conducting a strictly prohibited backwash procedure which caused the pellets to enter the tank.

“In the most egregious fashion, 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.”

To further aggravate the situation, the investigation conducted by Animal Welfare concluded that the VRD’s “fleeting and cursory” examination was only done nine months after the animals’ deaths following the Commissioner’s inquiries and being sent countless emails.

The investigation further revealed that the VRD did nothing in response to the death of the dolphins and allowed the marine park to go about its “business as usual” until a basic inspection was necessary to re-issue the park’s 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.”

Additionally, they want the importation, breeding and exploitation of dolphins being held in captivity to be immediately stopped in order to prevent future deaths.

Several activists have already staged protests, the most recent one being yesterday morning when a group placed three chained inflatable dolphins outside the national veterinary authority offices demanding the closure of the Mediterraneo marine park.

Do you think the marine park should be turned into a rehabilitation centre for aquatic animals?