{"id":40077205,"date":"2021-02-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/china-dialogue-ocean-staging.darkbluehq.com\/uncategorized\/16296-inside-chinas-booming-ocean-theme-parks\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T16:40:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T15:40:48","slug":"16296-inside-chinas-booming-ocean-theme-parks","status":"publish","type":"video","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/ocean\/16296-inside-chinas-booming-ocean-theme-parks\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside China\u2019s booming ocean theme parks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Zheng Yu works to raise public awareness about the plight of wild animals in captivity in China, including dolphins, beluga whales and other cetaceans that attract crowds of visitors to SeaWorld-style theme parks. She is wildlife campaign manager at the Beijing office of World Animal Protection, an international animal welfare organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the United States and Europe, the appeal of whale shows and other live animal performances has declined in recent years. Many are being scrapped<\/a> due to years of opposition from animal rights groups, celebrity boycotts<\/a> and a shift in public opinion following the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which exposed the poor conditions of captive orcas at SeaWorld Orlando.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In China, however, the industry has been thriving. In the past five years, around 30 new aquariums have opened \u2013 including dolphinariums, marine mammal parks and large ocean theme parks \u2013 bringing the country\u2019s total to more than 80. The China Cetacean Alliance, a coalition of conservation organisations, estimates<\/a> that the facilities have at least 1,000 cetaceans in captivity. In late 2019, ahead of the release of a new report<\/a> by World Animal Protection, Zheng Yu spoke with China Dialogue Ocean about the conditions these animals are kept in, her concerns for their welfare and the potential for aquariums to play a positive role in wildlife education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great deal has happened since our conversation with Zheng. Covid-19 brought much of the world\u2019s economy to a standstill. China\u2019s aquariums, like other tourist attractions, temporarily closed. \u201cWithout sufficient revenue from ticket sales due to the pandemic, we are concerned about the impact this has had on captive animals,\u201d says Zheng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the pandemic, there were even fewer ways for the public to ascertain the welfare of animals in captivity.<\/blockquote>Zheng Yu, World Animal Protection<\/cite><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When kept in captivity, marine mammals like beluga whales require highly specialised living environments, diets, veterinary care, and ample opportunity for social expression. Meeting these requirements makes up a significant share of the cost of running an aquarium. And before the pandemic, in response to growing demand from domestic Chinese tourists, aquariums had been expanding their offering to include a greater number and variety of wild animals, further increasing their operating costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Precise details are hard to come by. Even under normal circumstances, very little information is publicly disclosed about the condition and welfare of animals in China\u2019s aquariums. This lack of transparency only worsened when the coronavirus outbreak forced aquariums to close, says Zheng. \u201cDuring the pandemic, there were even fewer ways for the public to ascertain the welfare of animals in captivity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When dolphin performances and close-encounter experiences started up again in spring last year, there was no sign of improvement in the animals\u2019 conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, Zheng thinks some good has come out of the last year. After Covid-19 was reported to have been transmitted to humans through contact with wild animals, many in China \u2013 academics, lawmakers and ordinary citizens alike \u2013 began to re-evaluate<\/a> the relationships between humans and wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This conversation is \u201cvery positive and necessary\u201d, says Zheng. \u201cIt has made the public aware of the close link between animal and human health, and called attention to the many ways that our consumer behaviour can unknowingly affect animals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Production credits:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Directed by Guan Baizhong
Filmed by Zhang Kunpeng
Sound by Lu Jialong
Interview conducted by Zhang Chun
Edited by Bonnie Au
Produced by Lizi Hesling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSurreal<\/a>\u201d by Crowander<\/a>, CC BY NC<\/a>
\u201cSuzyB<\/a>\u201d by Blue Dot Sessions, CC BY NC<\/a>
\u201cIndigo Moon<\/a>\u201d by Daniel Birch<\/a>, CC BY NC<\/a>
\u201cDarkened Treeline<\/a>\u201d by Blue Dot Sessions, CC BY NC<\/a>
\u201cThe Callow<\/a>\u201d by Blue Dot Sessions, CC BY NC<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n