Dolphins, walruses and sea lions are not allowed to go to China: ‘Insanely happy’ | Inland

In an emergency procedure, animal welfare organizations Sea Shepherd and House of Animals last week asked to block the move of the marine mammals to Hainan Ocean Paradise theme park. The judge granted the request.

The animal welfare organizations want to prevent the Chinese amusement park from using the dolphins commercially for entertainment. They do not consider that an improvement in animal welfare. The animals are even worse off if they still have to jump through hoops in China, Sea Shepherd says.

‘Insanely happy’

Founder Karen Soeters of House of Animals reacts overjoyed to the verdict. “I am very happy with this verdict. On the other hand, I didn’t expect anything else because there is no other way,” Soeters responds. “The park in China sells cards over the backs of the animals. They’re going to do tricks in China, that’s for sure. They’re going to a place in China where we say it’s even worse.”

On November 23, another lawsuit will be filed at the multiple chamber of the court in Amsterdam. The appeal will then be submitted to the animal welfare organizations against the decision of the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality to grant the license to the Dolfinarium. Both organizations objected to this decision, but the minister rejected it. The judge believes that the parties should await the decision of this appeal.

Right

“To this end, the preliminary relief judge considered that the interest of the Dolphinarium in being able to transfer the marine mammals to China before the decision on the appeal outweighs the interest of Sea Shepherd in awaiting this decision. In this balancing of interests, the preliminary relief judge gives decisive weight to the irreversibility of a possible transfer to China. The Dolfinarium is therefore not allowed to use the export licenses until a decision has been made on the appeal,” said the judge in the judgment.

The permit for the relocation of the marine mammals expires on January 9.

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