A dolphin in flight tries to reach its trainer at the ‘Dolphinarium’ on East Coast Road near Mahabalipuram. | Photo Credit: Hindu Archives
In the late 1990s, Chennai briefly hosted what was projected as a futuristic entertainment experiment – a dolphinarium on East Coast Road near Mamallapuram. Named Dolphin City, the facility promised an experience along the lines of American marine theme parks such as SeaWorld by introducing captive dolphin shows to Indian audiences for the first time.
Within months, the spectacle turned into controversy as all three dolphins died, sparking one of the country’s first debates about the ethics of marine mammal captivity.
Published – 25 Feb 2026 06:32 IST
