January 7, 2025
Michelin rewarded for excluding dolphinaria from its guides
PETA celebrates group’s commitment to no longer promote locations that exploit captive marine animals
Great news to start the year: the famous travel guide publisher Michelin has just taken the laudable decision to exclude dolphinariums and other shows involving marine animals in captivity from its publications. This commitment to PETA earned it an “Animal Friendly Company Award” from the association. The new policy of the Michelin guides is undoubtedly in tune with the times, coinciding with the definitive closure this week of the controversial Marineland marine park in Antibes.
Contacted by PETA, management confirmed: “After our recent discussions, rigorous analysis and consultation with experts in animal ethics, we have made the decision to exclude from our recommendations dolphinaria and other shows involving marine animals in captivity . We believe that these practices no longer reflect the values of respect and responsibility that guide our publications. »
The Harderwijk dolphinarium in particular is no longer part of the 2025 selection of the Netherlands guide – its inclusion in the guide shocked the general public, who were increasingly aware of the suffering of animals in marine parks.
“Unlike travelers who can choose their destinations and activities, animals exploited for entertainment never have the opportunity to relax or share special moments with their loved ones,” says Mimi Bekhechi, PETA vice president for Europe. “We applaud this progressive decision and call on all other travel guides to follow Michelin’s lead and explore ways to promote responsible and respectful tourism by no longer supporting activities or places that exploit animals, such as parks. sailors. »
In the wild, orcas and other dolphins form close relationships with their families and travel vast distances in the ocean every day – but in dolphinariums such as SeaWorld, Loro Parque and Planète Sauvage, these animals live confined in tiny pools where they suffer from psychological distress and illnesses linked to their conditions of detention. They cannot engage in behaviors that are natural and important to them and die well short of their life expectancy in the ocean.
“Aware of the impact of our publications on tourist practices and the growing expectations in terms of animal welfare, we have undertaken an in-depth reflection on the content of our guides,” wrote Philippe Orain, international director of travel guides Michelin, to PETA. “This measure is part of a broader approach aimed at promoting tourism that respects wildlife and ecosystems. […] We hope this initiative will help raise public awareness of the need to protect animals and their natural habitat. We wish to encourage more respectful and informed practices in the choice of leisure activities. »
Michelin joins a long list of companies including Club Med, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Virgin Holidays, which have stopped promoting marine parks. The association is sending a framed certificate to Michelin as well as vegan chocolates to salute this ethical decision.
PETA, whose motto states in particular that “animals do not belong to us and [que] we don’t have to use them for our entertainment” opposes speciesism, the ideology that posits a false superiority of humans over other animals. For more information, go to PETAFrance.com or follow the latest news from the association on Facebook, X or Instagram.
Contact :
Anissa Putois; [email protected]
#
