Alesha Dixon is encouraging families to avoid attending dolphin and whale shows this summer, stating that such shows depict “what abuse looks like” to children. The Britain’s Got Talent judge and former Mis-Teeq singer is advocating for travelers to opt for wildlife-watching excursions instead of supporting captive animal performances. She has reiterated her call for travel company TUI to cease selling tickets to marine parks.
Despite increasing concerns over the well-being of marine mammals, many families visiting popular holiday destinations like Tenerife and Portugal still patronize captive dolphin and whale attractions. In their natural habitat, bottlenose dolphins can swim up to 63 miles daily, forming intricate family units and traveling long distances. However, over 3,600 dolphins and whales are currently confined to artificial tanks in entertainment facilities worldwide.
Alesha, who has served as a UK ambassador for World Animal Protection for over 14 years, emphasized the profound connection between humans and dolphins. She expressed her deep sadness at the sight of these intelligent creatures in captivity, highlighting the discrepancy between their natural behavior and the constraints of tank life.
Rather than supporting shows, Alesha suggests that families opt for observing dolphins in the wild, advocating for boat trips as a more enriching experience. She shared her daughter Azura’s encounter with wild dolphins in Jersey and her plans to take both her daughters on a similar trip in Italy this summer. Notably, the last dolphinarium in the UK closed in 1993, underscoring the adverse effects of captivity on dolphins and whales.
Alesha also addressed the misconception that captive animals appear happy due to their facial features, cautioning against the misleading nature of such assumptions. Several major travel companies, including Booking.com, Expedia, and Virgin Holidays, have ceased selling tickets to captive dolphin entertainment, aligning with the stance of campaign group World Animal Protection.
World Animal Protection is urging TUI to adopt a similar policy to end the exploitation of whales and dolphins for entertainment. Katheryn Wise, the organization’s UK wildlife campaigns manager, emphasized the importance of prioritizing animal welfare over profit in the tourism industry. TUI has been contacted for a response to these calls for action.