A group advocating for the rights of marine animals has initiated a campaign urging people to boycott a luxury hotel that houses dolphins. Recently released drone footage reveals six dolphins confined in what activists describe as a shallow concrete tank at a high-end hotel in Mexico, sparking calls for a global boycott.
Since 2015, the Hyatt Ziva Cancún resort in Cancún has leased its former swimming pool to Delphinus, a dolphin experience company. The footage, captured in May 2026 by the marine animal rights organization TideBreakers, shows the dolphins swimming repetitively in circles or remaining motionless near an enclosure.
TideBreakers has alleged that the dolphins endure frequent interactions with hotel guests throughout the day, limiting their ability to exhibit natural social behaviors. The group is now advocating for a worldwide boycott of Hyatt hotels until the resort discontinues its agreement with Delphinus.
During a visit to the resort in May, Marketa Schusterova, co-founder of TideBreakers, expressed concerns about the dolphins’ living conditions. She stated that the dolphins are kept in inadequate facilities, deprived of shelter, subjected to continuous loud music, and disturbed by nighttime laser shows. The animals appear malnourished, bear physical injuries, and exhibit signs of distress, lacking any opportunity for typical social interactions as they would experience in the wild.
In response to the accusations, a spokesperson for Hyatt Ziva Cancún acknowledged the concerns raised about the dolphins. The spokesperson emphasized that while Delphinus manages the dolphin habitat and program at the resort, the hotel aims to uphold high standards for all its services and experiences. Delphinus, an organization accredited by Mexican authorities and international agencies, is responsible for the dolphins’ welfare, with the assistance of trained animal care and veterinary professionals.
