Animal rights activist Ric O’Barry has posted an open letter to Disney executives asking for a “proper retirement” for the dolphins set to be relocated from The Seas at EPCOT.
Ric O’Barry Calls for Proper Retirement for Dolphins at The Seas
The letter was shared as a blog post on the website of Dolphin Project, an organization which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare and protection of dolphins worldwide.
Addressed to Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort; Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences; and Thomas Mazloum, president of New Experiences Portfolio & Disney Signature Experiences, the letter reads as follows:
For decades, Disney has been a pioneer of imagination, creativity, and innovation. From your timeless films to your unforgettable theme park experiences, you’ve inspired generations to dream big, care for the world around them, and embrace progress. One of the areas where Disney has consistently excelled is encouraging people —particularly children — to fall in love with the ocean and all its inhabitants through films like The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, and Moana.
These films have nurtured a deep appreciation and respect for the wonders of marine life in the hearts of children and adults alike. With this in mind, we urge you to take an important step toward embracing the values you’ve inspired in millions of individuals by offering a proper retirement to the dolphins currently living at Epcot, rather than relocating them to another marine park by sending them to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.
Gulfarium, since it opened its doors, has failed to report the deaths of at least six dolphins and has one of the highest death rates of any dolphinarium in the United States. We firmly believe moving them there is the wrong choice for their physical, mental and emotional well-being. In contrast, a sanctuary, would provide the dolphins with a true retirement, where they could live out the rest of their lives in a peaceful environment, and provide a safe space where they could engage in behaviors more attuned with their natural instincts.
Since 2019, 13-year old Izzy Megilley started Save the Disney Dolphins (SADD), a movement to end Disney’s captive marine mammal programs. In 2022, SADD together with Dolphin Project, launched a petition to ask that the captive dolphins at Epcot be retired — a petition which has gained 25,000+ signatures. While we recognize you’ve taken steps to remove them from your attractions, a change of location is not a change towards progress.
Walt Disney himself was known for his progressive ideas and forward-looking vision. His legacy of inspiring wonder and stewardship towards the environment lives on through Disney’s influence today. By choosing to retire the Epcot dolphins to a sanctuary, Disney would not only honor the mammals’ well-being, but also make a bold, pioneering statement that will be remembered as a turning point in marine conservation.
By combining Disney’s resources with Dolphin Project’s knowledge, passion, and expertise, together we can create a sanctuary that gives the dolphins a second chance at life. Created by Dolphin Project, the Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release, and Retirement Center in West Bali, Indonesia is the first and only permanent dolphin rehabilitation, release and retirement facility for formerly performing dolphins. It is the gold standard for dolphin care, and offers a model that can be replicated in other parts of the world.
Together, we can set a powerful example of what true conservation looks like, and, after years of performing for tourists, give the Epcot dolphins a retirement that they deserve.
With kind regards,
Richard O’Barry
Founder/Director, Dolphin Project
The open letter is in reference to recent news that the three male dolphins currently residing at The Seas in EPCOT will be relocated to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach, Florida later this month. According to Disney, the decision “came after a comprehensive evaluation as to what is best for these dolphins as infrastructure work progresses at The Seas.”
Guests are able to see the dolphins on the two-hour backstage tour, “Dolphins in Depth,” until the offering is discontinued on October 20, 2024.
Attached to the letter is a petition via Action Network sponsored by Dolphin Project to “Save the Disney Dolphins.” At the time of publishing, 26,385 signatures have been collected.
Richard (Ric) O’Barry is the founder and director of Dolphin Project. He began his career in the 1960s as the dolphin trainer on the American TV series “Flipper,” but went into animal activism when Kathy, the dolphin who played Flipper the most, died in his arms. Together, O’Barry and Dolphin Project seek to educate the public about dolphin captivity, and when possible, retire or release captive dolphins.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The post Animal Rights Activist Ric O’Barry Calls on Disney to Give Dolphins at EPCOT a ‘Proper Retirement’ appeared first on WDW News Today.