Saving Mincho: An Urgent Call for Dolphin Sanctuaries

Cancún, Mexico — The organization Animal Heroes has expressed serious concern about a dolphin named Mincho, held by Dolphinaris at the Barceló Maya Grand Resort. Mincho is described as being in “deplorable” condition — confined in restricted space following an accident that left him nearly blind and with possible bacterial contamination in his tank. Animal Heroes is calling on the Procuraduría  Federal  de  Protección  al  Ambiente (PROFEPA) and the federal government to intervene and relocate him to a dolphin sanctuary.

A Long History of Dolphin Tourism in the Riviera Maya

For decades, visitors to the Riviera Maya have enjoyed “swim‐with‐dolphin” programs and shows at facilities in Cancún, Puerto Aventuras, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres and inside private resort complexes like Barcelo and Xcaret. The state of Quintana Roo became one of the world’s busiest regions for dolphinariums: activists estimate nearly 19 captive‐dolphin facilities in Quintana Roo alone, many operated by companies like Dolphinaris, Delphinus and Dolphin Discovery.

These attractions were heavily promoted to tourists, often within resort premises, combining entertainment, photo-ops and animal encounters. Over time, however, critics argued that the artificial tanks, forced tricks and constant human interaction caused chronic stress, illness and premature death in dolphins.

Mincho: Catalyst for Change

Mincho’s case became pivotal. A viral video showing him crashing onto concrete during a trick sparked outrage. In 2025, PROFEPA permanently shut down the dolphin show at Barceló Maya and fined the operator more than 7.5 million pesos for non-compliance. The name of the new law — sometimes called the “Mincho Law” — reflects how his plight drove legislative action.

Landmark Legislation: What the New Law Requires

In June 2025, Mexico’s Congress and Senate unanimously approved sweeping reforms to the Ley General de Vida Silvestre (General Wildlife Law) that:

• Ban the use of dolphins and other marine mammals in shows, tourist‐swim activities, therapy or entertainment.
• Prohibit the breeding of dolphins for entertainment or swim schools; only scientific research or conservation may be permitted.
• Require dolphins already in captivity to either be moved to sea-pen sanctuaries or held under strict welfare standards until their natural death.
• Prevent new captures, imports or births of dolphins for entertainment purposes.
• Impose inventory, reporting and welfare obligations on facilities, with severe penalties for non-compliance.

In the state of Quintana Roo, some 15 dolphinariums will be impacted, threatening more than 1,800 jobs related to the tourism dolphin industry.

Implications for Resorts and Sanctuaries

For resorts that have long offered swim-with-dolphin programs in Cancún, Puerto Aventuras and elsewhere, the new law signals a major shift. Tourist encounters that involve swimming, touching or performing with dolphins will be prohibited unless recast entirely as conservation or rescue initiatives. Some facilities are now pivoting to promote “dolphin-watch” programs in open water rather than captive interactions.

Local organizations like Animal Heroes are actively pushing for a marine mammal sanctuary in Quintana Roo, where dolphins like Mincho could live in larger ocean pens, with social structure, enrichment and veterinary care. Meanwhile, the government will oversee transition phases of existing facilities and monitor compliance.

This evolving story blends tourism tradition, animal welfare concerns and regulatory reform — with Quintana Roo’s dolphin industry at the heart of a change whose ripples go well beyond the resorts.