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A hotel in Mexico has come under fire for keeping six dolphins in a ‘shallow’ concrete tank – initially built as swimming pools for guests.
The hotel Hyatt Ziva Cancún, in Cancún has been renting the previous pool to the corporate Delphinus, a ‘dolphin experience’ provider, since 2015.
Drone footage from May 2026, provided by marine animal rights group TideBreakers, shows the dolphins either swimming in limitless circles or floating aimlessly by the gate.
The animals are also made to endure interactions with tourists throughout the day, limiting time for their very own normal social behaviour, TideBreakers said.
Marketa Schusterova, TideBreaker’s co-founder, visited the resort in May and said the animals were living in ‘poor conditions’ featuring shallow pools, minimal shade, and little to zero rest.
The animal rights group is launching a campaign globally boycotting Hyatt hotels until they stop renting the pool out to Delphinus.
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Marketa said: ‘These dolphins are in shallow tanks, haven’t any escape, no shade, suffer from a relentless barrage of disco music, after which at night a laser show keeps them awake.
‘They will not be medically taken care of well, appear thin, have damage and scars on their bodies, and so they are clearly distressed.
‘There’s zero possibility of any form of normal social behaviour as they could experience it within the wild.’
In response, a spokesperson from Hyatt Ziva Cancún said: ‘We understand the concerns raised regarding the dolphins on the resort.
‘While the dolphin habitat and program on the resort are operated and managed by a 3rd party, Delphinus, we wish all services and experiences offered at our hotel to fulfill our high standards.
‘Delphinus is an organisation accredited by Mexican authorities and international agencies and is accountable for the care of the dolphins, including support from trained animal care and veterinary professionals.’
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