Overview
- Campaigners released drone footage filmed in May 2026 that they say shows six dolphins confined in a converted shallow concrete pool at Hyatt Ziva Cancún.
- TideBreakers and its co‑founder said the footage and their May visit showed signs of distress, limited shade and rest, guest interactions, constant music and laser shows, and visible body damage on the animals.
- Hyatt Ziva Cancún says the dolphin programme is run by third‑party operator Delphinus, which it describes as accredited by Mexican and international agencies and responsible for animal care and veterinary support.
- TideBreakers has launched a global boycott calling on Hyatt to stop renting pools to Delphinus, a move that raises reputational and commercial pressure on the hotel while no independent veterinary assessment or regulatory action has been reported.
- Captive dolphin attractions are common in coastal tourism and frequently challenged by welfare groups, and this episode highlights wider debates over brand responsibility for third‑party guest experiences and the limits of accreditation as public proof of welfare.