The Bright Side: Mediterranean’s first dolphin sanctuary for captive animals to open in Italy

Italy is set to open the Mediterranean’s first sanctuary for dolphins that have lived in captivity, offering a natural but supervised home for the animals as marine parks across Europe close. Located off Taranto, the San Paolo Dolphin Refuge is expected to receive its first dolphins by mid-2026 and will prioritise welfare over numbers, providing medical care, monitoring, and protected enclosures.