The young Catalan woman who wants to save the 83 captive dolphins remaining in Spain

BarcelonaThe shock came very early. She was only five years old and on a school trip to a zoo. The image of those dolphins, which she knew from documentaries swimming freely in the sea, circling in a concrete pool, grated on her. On the way home, she innocently asked, "Do the dolphins go back home now?" Her parents had to tell her the truth. They had to talk to her about the captivity“I couldn’t wrap my head around it. At that moment, I decided I would fight for their freedom,” recalls Olivia Mandle.

Today, at 18, she has not only kept that childhood promise, but has become one of the most influential voices of her generation in the fight for ocean conservation. She has just begun her studies in Marine Biology and Oceanography in Plymouth (UK), has spoken before the UN, is an Ambassador for the European Climate Pact, and is clear that “science and activism must go hand in hand.” “What is knowledge if it doesn’t leave the laboratory? And what is activism if it isn’t based on scientific evidence?” she reflects.

This determination led her to launch her own campaign on Change.org, #noespaisparadelfines (this is not a country for dolphins), which calls for the scheduled closure of all dolphinariums in Spain. In April 2023, he took the 150,000 signatures he had collected to the Congress of Deputies; today, the petition has more than 160,000. Now, this personal struggle is joined by a devastating investigation into dolphinariums: Mandle is the leading voice of Behind the Glass, the new campaign by the Foundation for Advice and Action in Defense of Animals (FAADA), which exposes the harsh reality of these centers.

Spain, the great "prison" of Europe

FAADA's investigation, conducted covertly over two years (2023-2025), provides the missing piece of evidence. And the data is shameful: Spain is the undisputed leader in Europe for captive cetaceans, with 83 animals (including bottlenose dolphins, orcas, and belugas) spread across 10 dolphinariums. "Clearly, we're falling behind," laments Mandle. "While other countries are closing centers, we have the highest concentration here."

But why in Spain? Andrea Torres, a biologist and coordinator of FAADA's wildlife department, attributes it to a combination of factors: "We have legislation that's difficult to enforce. The industry here is very strong, it has a lot of power." And there's yet another key factor: the tourism model. "Dolphinariums are located in key tourist destinations: the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Catalonia... If schools and tourists didn't come, they would have to close. It's a multi-million euro business," adds Torres.

This newspaper contacted Marineland Catalunya, the only remaining dolphinarium in Catalonia, but they declined to comment. "We inform you that we have finally decided not to participate," they stated.

The report Behind the Glass It documents a "desolate reality." "What surprises me most is how everyone repeats the same pattern to convince the visitor," explains Andrea. "First, the emotional music starts, they tell you about the supposed misfortunes that animals suffer in the wild to make you believe that they are safe and protected there. Then comes the romantic image of the caretaker dancing a ballad with the dolphin. And the public buys it."

The investigation reveals that cetaceans are forced to participate in shows with very loud music, forced acrobatics—such as caretakers surfing on dolphins—lifting trainers, simulating dances, using balls or hoops, and even allowing the public to touch or kiss them. In some centers, up to €490 is paid for direct contact with them, without taking into account the "serious safety and health risks involved," in addition to the psychological impact, Torres points out.

The big lie: neither education nor conservation

For decades, the industry has hidden behind education and conservation. The FAADA report dismantles these arguments piece by piece. Legally, these centers are registered as zoos and should be governed by the Zoos Act (31/2003), which requires them to meet scientific and educational objectives. The reality is quite different. According to the report, less than 17% of show time is dedicated to educational information, and what little there is is usually "very basic." "They want to convince visitors that they're doing education," says Andrea. "They play a voiceover before the show starts with loud music, but they don't care if people can't hear it. They've already checked the box."

Regarding research, the data is even more irrelevant: "They hardly do any research, and their participation in cetacean conferences is practically nonexistent," Andrea points out. Olivia Mandle is emphatic: "Their purpose is solely leisure and business. Making money at the expense of highly sensitive animals." Therefore, she sends a direct message to the families who bring their children: "I understand that they want to see them because they may never have the opportunity, but nowadays we have documentaries, encyclopedias, and even virtual reality. Seeing an animal in a small pool, stressed, behaving unnaturally... this is not education."

The future: sanctuaries instead of pools

Given this situation, the campaign Behind the Glass It demands concrete measures from the Spanish government. The most urgent: the effective enforcement of the law, the immediate end to the shows and any contact between animals and the public, and the gradual closure of the centers, starting with the two located within water parks (Marineland in Catalonia and Aqualand in Costa Adeje).

Why these two first? Andrea Torres is clear: "These are centers where 80% of the space consists of slides and pools. They keep the animals purely for profit and cannot justify themselves under the zoo law because they lack conservation, research, and education. They shouldn't be authorized." She adds: "Some of the centers participate in conferences or publish articles to justify their existence and comply with the law. But nothing justifies the captivity of cetaceans, and even less so in the case of water parks like Marineland. Here, the animals are 100% a tourist attraction." Another key measure, according to FAADA and Mandle, is "to ban the breeding and import of cetaceans." "It's the key to ending the industry," Andrea asserts. "We need these to be the last animals in captivity." So, what would happen to the 83 animals currently living in these tanks? The answer lies in Olivia Mandle's grand dream: marine sanctuaries. "It's realistic," the activist argues. "There are already models in Iceland. They are large, controlled spaces in the sea where they can live more freely, but with assistance, since they couldn't survive on their own." Olivia dreams of creating one in the Mediterranean. "It's a big change, but a necessary one. It would be a beneficial project that would position us as leaders in ethical transition."

Andrea Torres admits that the viability of this plan "is complicated by the industry and everything behind it," and laments that "many good projects are stalled." However, she insists: "We're not really proposing anything crazy. If a dolphinarium has been able to be built at sea, why not a sanctuary? In Cuba, there are dolphins kept in captivity on the high seas." The key difference, she explains, is that "the sites would be larger, there wouldn't be shows or activities," and, of course, "we have to be more careful with storms or disasters."

Unity is strength

At 18, Olivia has more responsibilities than many adults, but she doesn't see it as a burden. "I'm doing what I love; it's my life's mission. I'm fighting for my future and my brother's. If I don't do it, who will?" Her alliance with FAADA is a strategic union of forces. "Individual activism is important, but if we join forces, we go further," says Olivia. Andrea, from FAADA, agrees: "Olivia is the future; we have a lot of faith in her. It didn't make sense to go it alone when we want exactly the same thing." Olivia's final message is clear, direct, and resonates with everyone: "Every action counts, even if it seems insignificant. Find a passion that drives you. And if you don't know where to start, join organizations that are already working. They need your energy."