Mediterraneo Marine Park has defended its use of dolphins to make its souvenirs.
When the park’s bottlenose dolphins are not taking part in shows, they are locked in an underwater room and, in exchange for a few fish, are forced to make t-shirts, fridge magnets, key chains and other items that can be found on sale in the park’s gift shop.
Facing criticism from animal rights activists, who claim the practice is akin to slavery, Mediterraneo said it had the dolphins’ wellbeing at heart.
“Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures that enjoy manufacturing cheap souvenirs, something they would not be able to do easily in the wild,” a spokesperson for the park said, adding that the dolphins worked in cramped conditions because they suffered from a phobia of open spaces.
“Not only would we be depriving the dolphins of mental stimulation if we stopped using them, but they would also become unemployed. No other business in Malta employs dolphins, so in reality, what we do is a form of conservation,” she continued.
The spokesperson also downplayed an incident in which a visitor to the park found a note saying ‘Please set us free! It’s horrible here!’ inside a t-shirt he had purchased.
“That was an isolated act by three disgruntled dolphins who have since been terminated. I mean, their contracts were terminated. The fact they died of poisoning shortly after is completely coincidental.”
