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Activists say video shows new Georgia Aquarium VP hitting dolphins

ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News questioned the Georgia Aquarium about a recent hire that activists say can be seen on a video with his staff hitting, kicking and yelling at animals.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Aaron Diamant has learned the man allegedly seen in the video has signed on to be a senior vice president at the Georgia Aquarium.

"It makes me mad. No animal should be treated like that,” said one Georgia Aquarium patron after we showed them the video.

The video appears to show trainers at Marineland Mallorca in Spain, screaming, hitting, and even kicking their dolphins.

"I think it's disastrous. It's horrible,” Aquarium patron Luz Maria Mendoza said.

Spanish animal rights group SOS Delfines posted the undercover video, which it claims shows trainer José Luis Barbero among those engaging in the aggressive training techniques.

Diamant talked with the organization's project coordinator from Spain via Skype.

"The most troubling was really to see that it wasn't just the one person doing this, but there were other people who were partaking in this aggressions and people who were there watching it and didn't do anything about it,” Jennifer Berengueras with SOS Delfines said. "I believe if they are really coherent, and they really have concern for their animals, they may be thinking twice about hiring someone like this."

The Georgia Aquarium responded with their own statement saying they have a zero tolerance policy against the mistreatment of any of their animals.

"Barbero's 35 years of professional experience have been thoroughly reviewed and vetted by the leaders of the Georgia Aquarium," the statement.

Diamant tried to contact Barbero through this Facebook page but he has not yet replied.

Watch video posted by SOS Delfines:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm1Pmw0Ou90