Mexican lawmakers have banned the use of dolphins and other marine mammals in shows, therapy, research, recreational encounters and any other activities unrelated to conservation. Breeding dolphins in captivity is also prohibited under the ban, which in June won the unanimous approval of both houses of the Mexican Congress. “Mexico’s last generation of dolphins in captivity are heroes of the following generations,” says Jerónimo Sánchez, cofounder and now director of Animal Heroes, a Mexican animal-rights nonprofit. “Their tragic lives will save hundreds of others in the future.” Passage of the dolphin-protection measure is a historic moment for animal rights groups in Mexico, including Spanish-born Sánchez, who in 2017 launched one of the first nationwide campaigns to free Mexico’s dolphins from exploitation. The move comes months after a viral social-media video showed a dolphin known as Mincho crashlanding poolside while performing for tourists at the Barceló hotel... [Log in to read more]