An organization advocating for the rights of marine animals has initiated a boycott against the confinement of dolphins at a high-end hotel. Recently released drone footage reveals six dolphins swimming in what activists are calling a “shallow” artificial tank at a luxury hotel in Mexico, sparking calls for a global boycott.
The Hyatt Ziva Cancún resort, located 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 swimming repetitively in circles or remaining motionless near a gate.
According to TideBreakers, the dolphins are constantly interacting with hotel guests throughout the day, limiting their ability to exhibit natural social behaviors. The organization is urging a worldwide boycott of Hyatt hotels until the resort ceases renting the pool to Delphinus.
During a visit to the resort in May, Marketa Schusterova, co-founder of TideBreakers, expressed concerns about the dolphins’ living conditions. She reported that the dolphins are held in shallow tanks without escape routes or shade, exposed to continuous loud music during the day and disruptive laser shows at night. Schusterova noted signs of poor health such as thinness, body damage, and scars, indicating distress and a lack of opportunity for normal social interactions as they would experience in the wild.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Hyatt Ziva Cancún acknowledged the concerns raised about the dolphins. The spokesperson emphasized that while the dolphin habitat and program are managed by Delphinus, an accredited organization endorsed by Mexican authorities and international agencies, they strive to ensure all services and experiences at the hotel meet high standards, including the care provided by trained animal professionals.
