Dolphin show number four for the trip! I\'ve seen this one before, not at all bad but let down compared to the others we saw that week (Lisbon, Madrid, Valencia) by the smaller facilities and presence of only two animals. Although also quite possibly a little dolphin show fatigue on our part!
I also think it\'s a great shame that there are no longer dolphins on exhibit in Aqua-rama - the pool there isn\'t ideal for the sea lions as there is no proper land area (I did notice the large raft floating there!) and it means you now can\'t see Barcelona\'s dolphins without going to the show. I guess if the plans for the separate marine zoo come off then this will be fixed but who knows when (or if!) that will happen.
Problem is at the moment the other pool has the Californian Sea Lions; the show pool is the only place to see the dolphins. If Commerson's (or whatever) were to be brought in a) they'd have to be available and b) something'd have to go - both of which seem unlikely. The intention in theory is to build a new 'aquatic zoo' on a new site but I think the current economic situation has put paid to that in the short/medium term.
The new mayor cancelled the marine zoo. He has to show the new masterplan before the end of this year but I think he said that a new dolphin facilities will be build in the current zoo (but I know that will happen the same than before, he will announce it and then he will say that there's no money, so we will be in the same story.... a beatiful plan in paper but that is this, only a paper.... the zoo facilities will remain the same for the recurrent visitors but the foreign visitors will think that the zoo is in a process of renovation)
That's a real shame, seeming as I believe Barcelona Zoo was the 1st zoo In Europe to build a Dolphinarium (can anyone confirm this) I'd hope they'd expand they're Marine Exhibit. I'd be willing to share my 'personal plan" I'm anyone would be interested(just thought I'd ask incase anyone didn't want me posting it)
