Thomas Cook, one of the world’s leading leisure travel groups, was the first international travel company to announce a phase-out of sales to destinations that profit from captive orcas. Despite this announcement, the company continues to support the marine mammal captivity industry by partnering with investors who exploit belugas and dolphins.
Fosun, a Chinese investment company, owns 11% of shares of the Thomas Cook travel firm. Fosun built a luxury resort called the Atlantis Sanya, located on the island of Hainan, China. The resort opened its doors in May 2018 and has two on-site marine attractions for patrons: the Lost Chambers Aquarium which houses beluga whales, and is free for all hotel guests; and for an extra fee, patrons can swim with dolphins in the Dolphin Cay.
In addition to living in an unnatural environment where they are used for entertainment, the way these cetaceans were taken from their homes and families is also tragic. The beluga whales were captured in Russia, and the bottlenose and white-sided dolphins were taken from a notorious hunt in Taiji, Japan, an area well-known for the mass killing of dolphins from the movie, The Cove.
While Thomas Cook is dropping SeaWorld and Loro Parque facilities in the west, it is simultaneously promoting the marine park industry in China through its partnership with Fosun.
Thomas Cook states on its website that it seeks “to phase out bad practices wherever possible,” yet the company is turning a blind eye to the horrific practices involved with capturing wild marine mammals by its Chinese investment partner, Fosun.
To learn how you can help END the practice of captive dolphins and belugas in the United States and around the world, visit In Defense of Animals HERE!
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