Dolfinarium Harderwijk Dolfinarium News

[Mr Gharial]

An inspection in 2021 has revealed that Dolfinarium has failed to update their zoo license for any new animals they received since 2002. This means that 53 animal species in Dolfinarium were displayed illegally for over 20 years.

Over 600 pages of back-and-forth correspondence between the Dolfinarium and the government were recently discovered after being requested by the government. The Dolfinarium's zoo license did not cover a lot of animals, most notably the Common stingray.

Apparently, Dolfinarium has been providing the government a yearly species list, but didn't know that they also had to update their zoo license for any new species. They also failed to update this for new enclosures and radical changes to enclosures. Apparently Dolfinarium isn't the only zoo that didn't have anything in order.

Along with the zoo license, Dolfinarium has also been requested to update and increase their education.

Source (in Dutch): Looopings
(Source also includes multiple screenshots about the correspondence)

Ironically, they have multiple species that they do not have a license for, but it isn't a problem because they are considered commercial fish (Such as European eels, Seabass and Turbot)

 

[Cat-Man]

That is bonkers!

 

[MennoPebesma]

The Dolfinarium is no longer a member of EAAM (The European Association for Aquatic Mammals). Several years ago, the park already left the NVD (Dutch Association of Zoos) and the 'Club van Elf', the association of Dutch day attractions. That decision was made because to focus on cooperation with EEAM.

A previous inspection of EEAM identified areas for improvement. According to the park manager, these areas for improvement would take more time than the deadline for a re-inspection allowed. Therefore, it was decided to focus on implementing the improvements without requesting a re-inspection. This resulted in the membership being terminated.

The areas of improvement in question were not made public. But it is known that, among other things, the current Steller sea lion enclosure does not meet EAAM requirements in terms of water depth. Many standards of the EAAM remain leading for the future of the Dolfinarium. Some of the EAAM's guidelines correspond to previously made agreements between the Dolfinarium and the government. These were drawn up in 2021.

Source (in Dutch): ZooFlits

 

[JurassicMax]

At the start of last month the Dolfinarium received 8 Small-spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) and 4 Turbots (Scophthalmus maximus) from Natuurcentrum Ameland. In term Dolfinarium gave shark and ray eggs, and Snakelocks anemones.

Source:
Instagram of Dolfinarium Harderwijk (25/01/2025)

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

The Dolfinarium is no longer a member of EAAM (The European Association for Aquatic Mammals). Several years ago, the park already left the NVD (Dutch Association of Zoos) and the 'Club van Elf', the association of Dutch day attractions. That decision was made because to focus on cooperation with EEAM.

A previous inspection of EEAM identified areas for improvement. According to the park manager, these areas for improvement would take more time than the deadline for a re-inspection allowed. Therefore, it was decided to focus on implementing the improvements without requesting a re-inspection. This resulted in the membership being terminated.

The areas of improvement in question were not made public. But it is known that, among other things, the current Steller sea lion enclosure does not meet EAAM requirements in terms of water depth. Many standards of the EAAM remain leading for the future of the Dolfinarium. Some of the EAAM's guidelines correspond to previously made agreements between the Dolfinarium and the government. These were drawn up in 2021.

Source (in Dutch): ZooFlits

I don't think this attitude by the Dolfinarium is a good omen for the future. IMO, leaving the NVD membership already was a mistake ... (to put it diplomatically) and now to leave EAAM just because they cannot achieve the requirements for re-inspection by the organisation in time is just too lame and insane (to put it more forcefully: a real misjudgement) to contemplate.

They do make a note that at some future date they may rejoin EAAM when they have completed the quality level, criteria and guidelines for state of the art sea lion and other sea mammal exhibit requirements/husbandry/management. But as we say in the Netherlands ... deferring something is like preparing for the exit and a nay, never ... ever more!

I (am) tend(-ing) to think this reflects how the Dolfinarium has "lost it" and that really started when they did no longer wish to cooperate with the porpoise rescue program (that was later scooped up handily by a zoo facility on the Noord-Holland coastline ..., bigger, better and closer to the emergency locations than the Dolfinarium could ever provide in their old set-up)!