Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said announced on Monday that the government has commissioned an independent investigation into the conditions at Mediterraneo Marine Park, following a series of recent reports about the welfare of the dolphins kept there.

The review will be carried out by international experts, who will assess both the park's facilities and the care and health of the dolphins. Once completed, the experts will present a report with recommendations to guide the next steps, the government said.

"I will be following this investigation closely to ensure that every animal is kept in appropriate conditions and that the highest standards of welfare are observed," Bugeja Said said.

The announcement comes as a petition, which has so far gathered 7,781 signatures, continues to circulate calling for action over the dolphins' living conditions. The recently launched petition claims that three dolphins are being kept in filthy and unhygienic tanks. "The small, unhygienic tank they currently inhabit deprives them of exercising their natural behaviours, leading to psychological stress and physical health issues. Scientific studies have shown that dolphins in captivity often suffer from shortened lifespans, increased incidence of illness, and abnormal behaviours-a stark contrast to their wild counterparts," the petition reads.

Mediterraneo Marine Park, located in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, is Malta's only marine mammal facility and has housed dolphins for more than two decades. The park has regularly hosted performances involving dolphins and sea lions, which attract both tourists and local visitors. However, it has also faced criticism from animal rights groups who argue that marine animals cannot be adequately cared for in captivity.