A group advocating for marine animal rights has initiated a boycott campaign against the confinement of dolphins at a high-end hotel. Recently released drone footage depicts six dolphins swimming in what activists deem a restrictive concrete tank at a luxury resort in Mexico, sparking a call for a global boycott.
The Hyatt Ziva Cancún resort in Cancún has leased its former swimming pool to Delphinus, a dolphin experience company, since 2015. Footage captured in May 2026 by the marine animal rights group TideBreakers shows the dolphins repeatedly circling or remaining motionless near a gate.
TideBreakers alleges that the dolphins are frequently exposed to interactions with hotel guests throughout the day, limiting their ability to exhibit natural social behaviors. Consequently, the group is urging a worldwide boycott of Hyatt hotels until the resort terminates its contract with Delphinus.
During a visit to the resort in May, TideBreaker’s co-founder, Marketa Schusterova, remarked on the substandard conditions in which the dolphins are kept. She expressed concerns about the dolphins being confined in shallow tanks without escape, shade, subjected to constant disco music, and disturbed at night by laser shows. Furthermore, she noted their poor physical condition, thinness, body damage, scars, and evident distress, highlighting the absence of opportunities for normal social interaction as they would experience in the wild.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Hyatt Ziva Cancún acknowledged the concerns raised regarding the dolphins at the resort. The spokesperson clarified that while Delphinus oversees the dolphin habitat and program at the resort, the hotel is committed to ensuring that all services and experiences provided meet their high standards. Delphinus, an organization accredited by Mexican authorities and international agencies, is entrusted with the care of the dolphins, with the support of trained animal care and veterinary professionals.