Wildlife charities have expressed concern at plans to include Black Sea bottlenose dolphins in the Sochi Winter Olympics

Wildlife charity says "exploitation" will be "detrimental" to their health

International Olympic Committee and the Russian Olympic Committee should stop the planned use of captive dolphins in the Sochi Winter Games, the Born Free Foundation has said.

It is among 30 international and national animal protection organisations calling on games organisers to drop plans to use endangered Black Sea bottlenose dolphins during the Olympic Torch relay.

There is just a week to go before the opening of the games . The BFF said it also had concerns over reports that two orcas had been caught in Russian waters and were possibly used in the games.

“What a shocking irony that the Olympic Games, a symbol of freedom, could become a tainted spectacle promoting captivity,” said Will Travers, President of the Born Free Foundation.

“We hope for a successful Sochi Winter Olympics where the focus is on the athletes and not unnecessary and unacceptable animal exploitation.”
The charity said that keeping dolphins in captivity is likely to cause mental and physical suffering and reduce their lifespan.

“Born Free Foundation is shocked at the potential use of marine animals in Olympic ceremonies and is seriously concerned for the protection of these animals – especially when the objectives of the Olympic Movement and the Sochi Games is to protect biodiversity and to be in ‘harmony with nature’,” said Daniel Turner, spokesperson for Born Free.

“Keeping whales and dolphins in captive conditions, where their biological and behavioural needs are compromised, is extremely detrimental to their long-term survival. The IOC must give full consideration to the welfare of animals in this Olympic Games.”