A shocking video has ignited global outrage after capturing a terrifying moment at a luxury Mexican resort where a dolphin is believed to have died after jumping out of its pool.
The clip, which quickly surfaced on social media platforms, has led to a flood of negative reviews on the resort’s social media pages — with many calling for an end to animal performances at the venue.
The video shows three captive dolphins leaping from the water as lifejacket-clad tourists look on.
One of the dolphins, however, appears to miscalculate its jump and misjudge the edge of its enclosure, landing painfully on the edge of the pool.
The animal remains motionless as trainers rush to its aid, sparking concerns about its well-being.
Marine Activist: “It’s Completely Inexcusable”
The footage was later shared by the activist group UrgentSeas on Instagram.
“The following incident took place in January, 2025 at @barcelomayagrandresort. The guest who filmed this has asked to remain anonymous,” the caption reads. “Though we cannot confirm, we are told that the dolphin has died following this SHOCKING and UNNECESSARY injury.
“Please comment, review and BOYCOTT Hotel Barcelo Maya in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Warning: The footage contains distressing content and viewer discretion is advised.
Marine mammal activist Phil Demers shared the disturbing footage through his UrgentSeas social media accounts and expressed his disbelief at what he had seen.
“This particular incident is one of the worst. It really, truly is. Even if it survived, its health is going to be severely compromised,” Demers told Yahoo News on Saturday morning.
“It’s completely inexcusable, it’s something that never would happen in the wild. It just eliminates any rationale they should exist in these concrete tanks.”
PETA has also released an article following the incident, where the group calls for the dolphin shows and experiences to stop.
“These animals are trained to perform unnatural tricks,” writes PETA’s staff. “In ‘swim with dolphins’ encounters, they are forced to repeatedly push and pull human tourists around, sometimes over 50 times a day.”
Resort Under Fire Over Dolphin Enclosures
The incident is alleged to have taken place at Barceló Maya Grand Resort, located near Cancún, Mexico.
The hotel offers guests a so-called dolphin “friendly” encounter for $66.75 USD, allowing visitors to shake fins and hug the dolphins. For an additional $15 USD, guests can ride them.
“Step into a breezy open-air palapa to check in, then spend the rest of your experience surrounded by tropical paradise while you interact with the dolphins and learn how to care for the oceans surrounding the Riviera Maya,” a website promoting the experiences reads. “For your comfort, you’ll also find amenities like locker rental, changing rooms, showers, and photo/video services.” A promotional video can be seen below:
Following the video’s release, the resort’s social media pages were bombarded with criticism, prompting the company to limit comments on recent posts. However, older content remains open, where animal welfare advocates have demanded change.
“This broke my heart and flipped my stomach upside down,” one commenter wrote. Another, posting in Spanish, simply demanded: “We demand the closure.”
PETA’s message to guests at the resort is “never pay to ‘swim with dolphins’ or engage in any other activity that sees them exploited for profit.”
Yahoo News reached out to the resort’s parent company, Grupo Barcelo, but they did not immediately reply.
“Like a Prison”
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Demers first raised concerns about the resort in January – just days before the new viral video surfaced online.
Activists releasing drone footage showing the facility’s dual dolphin tanks, which sit just meters from the open ocean.
Opponents have described the conditions as “like a prison”, arguing that these are among the smallest dolphin enclosures in Latin America.
This video was taken on Jan 22, 2025 above @barcelomayagrandresort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. It is home to 4 captive dolphins in Latin America’s smallest dolphin tank. Please BOYCOTT HOTEL BARCELO,” one caption reads.
Following this latest incident, Demers reiterated his call for the dolphins to be removed, emphasizing that their confinement is both cruel and dangerous.
“This is the reality. We can close our eyes, but that’s not going to serve the animals.”
Joint Statement Released
Following the incident, several animal rights organizations have come together to release a joint statement.
“For a year now, the organisations Animal Heroes, Dolphin Freedom, Marea, and Oceanos De Vida Libre have maintained a permanent campaign demanding the closure of this dolphinarium, which is one of the smallest in Mexico,” the statement begins. “We have delivered letters to both Barcelo in Playa del Carmen and in Mexico City, as well as letters from schoolchildren in Baja California pleading for an end to the exploitation of dolphins, yet they have never been willing to receive us.”
They add: “In addition, we have exposed other tragedies, such as the deaths of the dolphins Alex and Plata in just one year, which were never properly investigated.
“We have shown that the dolphin pool is smaller than those for humans, despite the fact that in the wild they swim vast distances and depths, that they have no shelter from the sun, and so on.”
Investigation Underway
Mexican environmental authorities have launched an investigation into the deaths of two dolphins used for tourist entertainment at the Barceló Riviera Maya Hotel.
PETA states on its website: “Two dolphins, Plata and Alex, suffered severe injuries and died within 12 months of each other after being attacked by an incompatible tankmate at Barceló.”
The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) confirmed the inquiry in a press release, stating: “On January 24, Profepa requested the submission of the documentation with which the Dolphinaris Barceló dolphinarium, located at the Barceló Hotel, notified the Directorate General of Wildlife (DGVS) about the death of the dolphin named Plata.”
Authorities also demanded records related to a second dolphin named Alex, requesting his transfer authorization and, if applicable, official notification of his death.
The investigation will also review the resort’s dolphin inventory from 2018 to 2024, tracking animal acquisitions and removals to ensure compliance with legal ownership regulations.
Following the deaths, Playa del Carmen Mayor Estefanía Mercado addressed the situation, emphasizing the importance of animal welfare protections.
“In light of the events surrounding the death of a dolphin at the Barceló Riviera Maya Hotel, we inform you that our Ministry of the Environment is in communication with state and federal authorities, who have taken over the investigation.”
She also reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to strengthening regulations for captive animals, stating: “From the Government of Solidaridad, we reaffirm our commitment to animal protection and will work on proposals to strengthen regulations that guarantee their well-being because the right to human enjoyment should never cost the life of a living being.”
With scrutiny mounting, the resort and its Dolphinaris Barceló dolphinarium could face serious consequences if found in violation of wildlife protection laws.
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