Alesha Dixon, a judge on Britain’s Got Talent and former member of the band Mis-Teeq, is encouraging families to avoid attending dolphin and whale shows this summer. She believes that these shows demonstrate “what abuse looks like” to children. Instead, she is advocating for holidaymakers to opt for wildlife-watching excursions and is specifically urging the travel company TUI to cease selling tickets to marine parks.
Despite growing concerns about the well-being of marine mammals, many families visiting popular holiday destinations like Tenerife and Portugal continue to patronize captive dolphin and whale attractions. In contrast, wild bottlenose dolphins can cover around 63 miles per day, traversing extensive distances in intricate family units. Nonetheless, over 3,600 dolphins and whales are still confined to concrete tanks in entertainment facilities globally.
Alesha, who has supported World Animal Protection as a UK ambassador for over 14 years, emphasized the profound connection between humans and dolphins. She expressed her difficulty in articulating the unique feeling she experiences when observing dolphins in their natural habitat, stressing the importance of preserving these remarkable creatures.
The artist, who is gearing up for a Mis-Teeq reunion, highlighted the distressing contrast between the freedom of dolphins in the ocean and their captivity in tanks. She emphasized the educational value of witnessing animals in their natural environment, emphasizing that this offers a more authentic and enriching experience compared to captive shows.
Rather than purchasing tickets for dolphin and whale shows, Alesha suggests that families invest in boat trips to witness dolphins in their natural surroundings, promoting a more magical encounter. She recounted her eldest daughter’s experience of spotting dolphins in the wild in Jersey and shared her plans to take both her daughters on a similar expedition in Italy this summer.
Alesha cautioned against the misconception that captive dolphins appear happy due to their facial features, emphasizing the misleading nature of such assumptions. Several major travel companies have already stopped selling tickets to captive dolphin entertainment, and World Animal Protection is pressuring TUI to follow suit. The organization’s UK wildlife campaigns manager, Katheryn Wise, stressed the need for TUI to discontinue selling tickets to these shows and contribute to ending the captivity of whales and dolphins.
TUI has been reached for comment on this matter.