PARIS, France – France on Saturday, May 6, banned the breeding in captivity of dolphins and killer whales under tighter rules that campaigners hope will eventually herald the end of shows involving the animals. Environment Minister Segolene Royal had on Wednesday, May 3, signed a version of the legislation introducing "tight controls on the reproduction of dolphins," her ministry said in a statement. Richard Baum/Reuters

French environment minister Segolene Royal signed a version of the bill on Wednesday, but decided the rules needed to be “more radical” after learning “some animals were drugged” in aquariums, her ministry told AFP. The new rules ban the captivity of all whales, dolphins, and porpoises, except for orcas and bottlenose dolphins already held in authorized aquariums.
France bans the breeding of killer whales and dolphins in captivity and orders aquariums and water parks to expand their pools within three years following a campaign by animal rights groups.