![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.animals24-7.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Picsart_25-02-19_17-51-13-079-e1740016334612.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n CANCUN,\u00a0 Mexico\u2013\u2013<\/strong>Great excitement among dolphin freedom advocates over the declared bankruptcy of The Dolphin Company,\u00a0 owners of 30 or 31 dolphinariums in eight nations,\u00a0 depending on which company statement one accepts as current,\u00a0 is tempered by the reality that depending on the terms of the bankruptcy,\u00a0 if accepted by a Mexican court,\u00a0 none of the dolphins at any of the Dolphin Company facilities may be going anywhere.<\/p>\n It is possible that several hundred dolphins,\u00a0 the most valuable assets of the Dolphin Company,\u00a0 might be auctioned off,\u00a0 the proceeds to be used to partially liquidate a claimed $200 million in debt.<\/p>\n <\/a> Ric & Helene O\u2019Barry.<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u201c<\/strong>When I first heard they were going out of business I did a backflip off the couch!\u201d exulted Ric O\u2019Barry,\u00a0 85,\u00a0 founder of The Dolphin Project.<\/p>\n \u201cNow it\u2019s time to figure out what is fact and what is fiction,\u201d\u00a0 O\u2019Barry quickly added.<\/p>\n O\u2019Barry,\u00a0 a former Miami Seaquarium dolphin trainer,\u00a0 has been campaigning for dolphin liberation from zoos and aquariums since 1970.<\/p>\n The effort has included many returns of dolphins back to their native habitat,\u00a0 along with at least as many disappointments when dolphin exhibitors could neither be persuaded nor be compelled by litigation to let their dolphins go.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n A huge amount depends on what type of bankruptcy Dolphin Discovery,\u00a0 one of many business names used by Controladora Dolphin S.A. de C.V., \u00a0has declared, \u00a0and how many of the multitude of company holdings and subsidiaries are involved,\u00a0 to what extent.<\/p>\n If the Dolphin Discovery bankruptcy is approved under the Mexican equivalent of U.S. Chapter 11, \u00a0& if the bankruptcy court approves, \u00a0the accumulated $200 million owed to creditors may be discharged for pennies on the dollar and the company might otherwise be able to keep on doing business as usual.<\/p>\n Further,\u00a0 since Dolphin Discovery is a multinational corporation, \u00a0declaring bankruptcy in Mexico,\u00a0 home of Controladora Dolphin S.A. de C.V., \u00a0\u00a0the Mexican bankruptcy might not actually affect assets anywhere else,\u00a0 certainly not without separate filings by each of the many Dolphin Discovery subsidiaries.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Dolphin Company photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Beyond all that,\u00a0 the bankruptcy court, \u00a0or courts,\u00a0 must disentangle how much of the Dolphin Discovery debt is owed to outside creditors,\u00a0 and how much is \u201cpaper debt\u201d resulting from transactions within the multitude of companies either owned outright or controlled by Controladora Dolphin S.A. de C.V.,\u00a0 a holding company for the rest apparently formed in 1990.<\/p>\n The newspaper El Heraldo de Mexico<\/em> on February 12, 2025 first reported that Dolphin Discovery had declared bankruptcy.<\/p>\n A follow-up report on February 17,\u00a0 2025 disclosed that dolphinariums in Cancun, \u00a0Isla Mujeres,\u00a0 Cozumel, \u00a0Riviera Maya, \u00a0Puerto Aventuras, \u00a0Mahahual, \u00a0Playa del Carmen, \u00a0Akumal, Nuevo Vallarta, \u00a0Punta Cana, \u00a0Miami, \u00a0Ocho Rios, \u00a0Montego Bay and other Caribbean islands were involved:\u00a0 at least 12 in Mexico,\u00a0 some in unspecified Caribbean nations,\u00a0 and a disputed interest in the Miami Seaquarium in Florida.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n The Dolphin Discovery web site lists as Caribbean holdings Dolphin Discovery, \u00a0Grand Cayman, \u00a0British West Indies;\u00a0 Dolphin Discovery, \u00a0St. Kitts, \u00a0British West Indies;\u00a0 Ocean Adventures, \u00a0Punta Cana, \u00a0Dominican Republic;\u00a0 Dolphin Discovery, \u00a0Punta Cana, \u00a0Dominican Republic;\u00a0 Dolphin Cove, \u00a0Ocho Rios, \u00a0Jamaica;\u00a0 and Yaaman, \u00a0in\u00a0Jamaica.<\/p>\n The above were all included,\u00a0 at least by implication,\u00a0 in the El Heraldo de Mexico <\/em>reckoning.<\/p>\n But Dolphin Discovery also claims controlling interests in dolphinariums not specifically mentioned,\u00a0 including Marineland,\u00a0 in St. Augustine,\u00a0 Florida;\u00a0 Dolphin Connection, \u00a0on Duck Key in Florida; \u00a0and Gulf World, \u00a0in Panama City Beach, \u00a0Florida.<\/p>\n This is in addition to the disputed interest in the Miami Seaquarium.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Also not mentioned by El Heraldo de Mexico<\/em> were claimed Dolphin Company holdings in other nations,\u00a0 among them Aquarium Mar de Plata in Argentina;\u00a0 ZooMarine, \u00a0in Rome, \u00a0Italy;\u00a0 Aquafelix, \u00a0in Civitavecchia, \u00a0Italy;\u00a0 and Acquajoss, \u00a0in Conselice, \u00a0Italy.<\/p>\n Whether any of these dolphinariums are involved in the Mexican bankruptcy proceedings remains unclear.<\/p>\n According to El Heraldo de Mexico<\/em> columnist Dario Celis Estrada,\u00a0 the major Dolphin Discovery creditors include the Prudential Insurance and Cigna Insurance groups.<\/p>\n Overseeing the bankruptcy proceedings,\u00a0 Estrada wrote,\u00a0 is to be Gerardo Bad\u00edn,\u00a0 one of the best-known bankruptcy conciliators in Mexico.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Observed the Mexican news website Reportur.mx<\/em>,\u00a0 \u201cThis group of dolphinariums is considered one of the largest in the world, \u00a0but has been in decline, \u00a0apparently due to the April 2024 expiration of a contract to operate the Miami Seaquarium and subsequent eviction. \u00a0The company faces lawsuits and countersuits, \u00a0since the famous orca Lolita died in Miami in 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cDolphin Company parks had seen a significant drop in tourists since the summer,\u201d\u00a0 Reportur.mx<\/em> noted in October 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year, \u00a0compared to last year, \u00a0we clearly see a slowdown,\u201d\u00a0 Dolphin Company director of operations Franco Mart\u00ednez acknowledged.<\/p>\n Martinez said the dropoff was about 15%.<\/p>\n <\/a> Eduardo Albor.<\/strong><\/em> \u201cDolphin Cove Limited\u2019s shares tumbled on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, \u00a0wiping out $2.3 million U.S. dollars in market value after reports emerged that its parent company, \u00a0Controladora Dolphin S.A. de C.V had filed for bankruptcy,\u201d\u00a0 reported Jamaica Observer<\/em> business writer David Rose.<\/p>\n Seeking comment,\u00a0 Rose spent the day fruitlessly chasing Dolphin Cove Limited and Dolphin Discovery officials,\u00a0 including Eduardo Albor Villanueva, \u00a0cofounder and chief executive of the Dolphin Discovery Group.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n The former Dolphin Discovery subsidiary MS Leisure,\u00a0 later absorbed into another subsidiary company, \u00a0in August 2021 bought the Miami Seaquarium from Festival Fun Parks,\u00a0 the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based owner of 21 theme parks worldwide.<\/p>\n The deal included a lease on the Seaquarium property that was to run until April 2044.<\/p>\n While Dolphin Discovery technically acquired as part of the transaction the orca whale Lolita,\u00a0 the Miami Seaquarium star attraction since her capture in Penn Cove,\u00a0 Washington,\u00a0 in 1970,\u00a0 \u00a0she was by then ill,\u00a0 frail,\u00a0 retired from performing,\u00a0 and the Dolphin Company was not allowed to exhibit her\u2013\u2013or even display her photograph in promotional materials\u2013\u2013under the conditions of the Seaquarium operating permit issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n <\/a> Hugo and Lolita returning to Penn Cove in spirit.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em>(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Eduardo Albor Villanueva,\u00a0 usually called just Eduardo Albor,\u00a0 in April 2023 announced having reached an agreement with advocates for returning Lolita to Penn Cove.<\/p>\n (See A \u201cwin-win\u201d for Lolita, & even more for those promoting her homecoming<\/a>.)<\/strong><\/p>\n But Lolita,\u00a0 57,\u00a0 instead died at the Seaquarium on August 18,\u00a0 2023.<\/p>\n Meanwhile the Dolphin Company had been hit with multiple citations from the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service [APHIS] for alleged violations of animal care standards.<\/p>\n Attendance,\u00a0 already falling since Lolita was taken off exhibit shortly before the Dolphin Company took over managing the Seaquarium,\u00a0 fell further.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Allegedly failing to make payments,\u00a0 the Dolphin Company was on March 7,\u00a0 2024 sent a lease termination notice by Miami mayor Daniella Levine Cava,\u00a0 who cited the \u201clong and troubling history of violations\u201d cited by USA-APHIS.<\/p>\n When the Dolphin Company failed to vacate the Seaquarium by April 21,\u00a0 2024,\u00a0 Cava initiated eviction proceedings.<\/p>\n The Dolphin Company ran into further difficulty in early October 2024,\u00a0 when the bottlenose dolphins Turk,\u00a0 Gus,\u00a0 and Nate,\u00a0 ages 15,\u00a0 14,\u00a0 and 20,\u00a0 died at the Gulf World Marine Park,\u00a0 acquired by the Dolphin Company in 2015.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Jessica Clark of First Coast News<\/em> then revealed on December 18,\u00a0 2024 that personnel at Marineland Dolphin Adventure,\u00a0 near St. Augustine,\u00a0 Florida,\u00a0 had \u201cnot been getting paid on time.\u201d<\/p>\n Why not?<\/p>\n Clark reported that she had been unable to get answers from the Dolphin Company.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n The Dolphin Company is scarcely the only marine animal exhibition business going broke.<\/p>\n Marineland of Antibes,\u00a0 on the French Riviera, founded in 1970,\u00a0 one of four dolphinariums in France and one of only two European dolphinariums to exhibit orcas,\u00a0 closed permanently on January 5,\u00a0 2024,\u00a0 after announcing intent to close on December 4,\u00a0 2024,\u00a0 blaming \u201cdeclining attendance and increased regulation of animal captivity in France.\u201d<\/p>\n Ric O\u2019Barry told ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong> that he is advising the French government concerning the disposition of the Marineland of Antibes dolphins and orcas.<\/p>\n The professional services firm RSM Australia was on February 26,\u00a0 2024 \u00a0to oversee a business reorganization of the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury, \u00a0Western Australia. \u00a0The Dolphin Discovery Center,\u00a0 while not actually bankrupt,\u00a0 reportedly might have been without a $1.5 million government bailout.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n In the U.S.,\u00a0 the SeaQuest interactive aquarium chain,\u00a0 which did not exhibit dolphins but featured hands-on exhibits where visitors could touch,\u00a0 pet,\u00a0 and even hold animals,\u00a0 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cBankruptcy court records show the company\u2019s gross revenues plummeted in 2024, \u00a0dropping to $15.28 million from about $27.2 million in 2022. \u00a0SeaQuest tells the court it currently has more than $16.6 million in liabilities compared to less than $700,000 in assets,\u201d\u00a0 summarized Eric Rasmussen of KSTP television in St. Paul,\u00a0 Minnesota,\u00a0 on February 18,\u00a0 2025,\u00a0 following the closure of the SeaQuest location in Roseville,\u00a0 Minnesota.<\/p>\n The Roseville closure leaves only four SeaQuest aquariums still operating,\u00a0 in Woodbridge,\u00a0 New Jersey;\u00a0 Folsom,\u00a0 California;\u00a0 Layton,\u00a0 Utah;\u00a0 and Las Vegas,\u00a0 Nevada.<\/p>\n What will become of the animals left stranded by the SeaQuest closures remains unclear.<\/p>\nBankruptcy leaves dolphins\u2019 fate up in the air<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nRic O\u2019Barry, 85, \u201cdid a backflip off the couch\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nWhat type of bankruptcy?<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nHow many sites are involved?<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nMany more locations<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nHoldings in Argentina & Italy<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n15% drop in attendance<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
(The Dolphin Company photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\nJamaican subsidiary stock shares crashed<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nMiami Seaquarium debacle<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nLolita died<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nEviction<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nMarineland staff paid late<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nMarineland of Antibes closes<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nBankrupt SeaQuest down to four sites<\/h2>\n