The Dutch National Railway (NS) has announced that it will end its long-standing partnership with marine mammal park Dolfinarium in Harderwijk, citing concerns over animal welfare.
This decision means that the combination of a train ticket and access to the marine mammal park will no longer be available after next month.
“We spoke with [animal rights group] Bite Back, and based on those insights, we decided that the Dolfinarium no longer fits our offerings,” NS said. The collaboration is set to end on September 30.
Bite Back reported that five other Dutch companies are also terminating their partnerships with Dolfinarium. Previously, supermarket chains Spar and Lidl decided not to sell tickets to Dolfinarium any longer.
Raising awareness
“Through emails, letters, and phone calls, we have contacted various companies that offer discount tickets, discount codes, or trips to the Dolfinarium,” explained Raymond Olivers, campaign coordinator for Bite Back.
“Fortunately, we are seeing an increasing awareness surrounding marine mammals in captivity,” he added. The animal rights group is particularly critical of the undersized habitats for animals at the park.
The termination of these collaborations is another sign of growing international concern for the treatment of marine animals in captivity, reflecting a trend toward greater monitoring of entertainment venues that house and display these animals.
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