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A zoo has been criticised after footage appeared to show a keeper performing a sex act on a dolphin .

But investigators say the act isn’t a crime because it was part of a “breeding programme”.

Since the video was released online, furious animal campaigners have slammed the Dolphinarium in Hardewijk, Netherlands.

They branded it an “underwater circus” and are calling for it to be shut down immediately.

Undercover footage showed a dolphin lying on its back in what appears to be an indoor pool.

(Image: NND NEWS AGENCY)

A male zookeeper leans over the sea mammal and uses his glove hand to perform the sex act before feeding the dolphin a fish.

The zoo has claimed the weird act is to “de-stress” the animals.

Keepers were also filmed saying that it was done to prevent the dolphins from having incestuous relations.

They also claimed there were “gay” dolphins at the zoo that have sex with each other in their tanks.

Leonie Vestering, leader of animal party PvdD, pressed charges and accused the zoo of sexual abuse.

But officials are refusing to pursue a criminal case.

(Image: NND NEWS AGENCY)

They determined that no laws were broken by the disturbing act.

The undercover video revealing the act was filmed by TV show RAMBAM and uploaded to their YouTube channel.

In a statement the prosecutor said: “The sexual act with the dolphin is performed in the context of training the dolphin for the release of sperm as part of a breeding programme.

“The act was conducted by a scientist in the context of scientific research that focuses on this breeding programme.”

It has also been claimed that the dolphins are kept in small over-chlorinated tanks for long periods.

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Responding to the allegations, the Dolphinarium said: “The interplay between man and dolphin fits well in all respects within all laws that the Dolphinariam comply with, like all zoos should."

(Image: NND NEWS AGENCY)

A spokesman added: “By far the largest portion of the day all animals are in the basin DolfijndoMijn, which has about 3 million litres of water over the whole habitat.

“They are only sometimes kept in the smaller basins for observation.

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“The accusation of harmful chlorine is also unfounded.

“A specialised team tests the water habitats in the Dolphinarium daily so that it meets the legal standards.”