The Dolphin Company and The Guadalajara Zoo Join Efforts For Conservation

Cancun, Quintana Roo, August 26^th, 2021.- The Dolphin Company, the largest park operator in Latin America and the #1 swimming with dolphins company in the world, announced that together with the Guadalajara Zoo, it carries out actions that contribute to the conservation of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus), a species considered in danger of extinction.

With the aim of involving other institutions and raising awareness in a greater population about the preservation of the manatee, The Dolphin Company yesterday moved two specimens of this species to the facilities of the Guadalajara Zoo, one of the largest and most important in Latin America. The manatees are an 8-year-old male named Lorenzillo born in Puerto Aventuras and a 6-year-old female named Claudia born in Isla Mujeres, both born in the care stipulated by the company’s Miracle breeding program.

The transfer was carried out by air on stretchers made to measure for each specimen and they were accompanied at all times by Specialists and Veterinarians who ensured their well-being during the journey. Both specimens may be admired by families from Jalisco and the west of the country who will have access to educational programs designed to raise awareness about the respect and importance of conserving the species that inhabit the planet.

The Guadalajara Zoo is an optimal home for this species, it has 50 hectares of extension and houses an animal population of more than 5,000 individuals of a great diversity of species among Sharks, Black Bears, Gorillas, Giraffes, Orangutans, Antarctic Penguins, among many others. In addition, it has an experienced team of veterinarians who will care for manatees. In this regard, it should be noted that The Dolphin Company Specialists and Veterinarians provided extensive training for weeks to the team responsible for ensuring the well-being of Lorenzillo and Claudia.

“We recognize the effort and concern of the Guadalajara Zoo for the conservation of the manatee, an emblematic species of the Caribbean that is unfortunately threatened in the wild. At The Dolphin Company we have always taken care of its preservation, we have had this species in our care for 20 years in three of our habitats located in Isla Mujeres, Cozumel and Puerto Aventuras in Quintana Roo. We are confident that the expert veterinarians in Guadalajara will provide Lorenzillo and Claudia with the proper care and love”, said Dr. Roberto Sánchez, Veterinary Medicine Director at The Dolphin Company.

On the other hand, Luis Soto Rendón, General Director of the Guadalajara Zoo said: “We are very happy to receive Lorenzillo and Claudia in our facilities, we know that they will find at the Guadalajara Zoo an excellent home where our veterinarians will take care of them with dedication. It is also an opportunity for our visitors since they will meet a new species and will be able to obtain valuable information about it, in addition to learning about the more than 300 species that live in our care. This will undoubtedly enrich the education and conservation programs that we offer as an institution”.

In 2006, The Dolphin Company attended the birth of Yoltzin, the first manatee born in human care in the State of Quintana Roo. Today, its habitats contribute to the preservation of the species by being home to 19 specimens of manatees, which, through educational interactions, sensitize people about the importance of caring for the species and its environment.

As part of education efforts about the conservation of the manatee, an endangered species, The Dolphin Company commemorates International Manatee Day, which corresponds to September 7^th, each year with a week of educational activities for the entire family called the ‘Manatee Week’ and this year is scheduled from September 6^th to 12^nd.