EXCLUSIVE: The closure of Europe’s greatest marine park left the destiny of its remaining dolphins and orcas unsure.
Marineland has been closed since January 2025 (Picture: Getty)
The French authorities has moved to speed up plans to relocate the remaining marine mammals caught at Marineland Antibes, the most important marine zoo in Europe which closed in January 2025. The 2 orcas and twelve dolphins stored at Marineland, within the south of France, might be transferred to Spain inside weeks. Throughout a go to to the location in Antibes on the French Riviera on Friday, France’s Minister for Ecological Transition, Mathieu Lefèvre described the state of affairs as “an absolute emergency” in gentle of the deteriorating situation of the swimming pools.
He stated that leaving the animals the place they’re is not viable. He added: “The established order would condemn each orcas to sure loss of life. Given the dilapidated state of the swimming pools, we should act shortly and break the impasse.” The orcas Wikie and Keijo, together with twelve dolphins, have remained on the park because it closed to the general public greater than a yr in the past. The deaths of a number of animals on the park and disturbing footage of the animals’ residing circumstances have sparked rising anger and protests lately.
We use your sign-up to supply content material in methods you’ve got consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This may occasionally embody adverts from us and third events based mostly on our understanding. You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
Marineland Antibes opened again in 1970 (Picture: Getty)
A ban on orca and dolphin exhibits and their captivity in France led to the theme park’s closure on January 5, 2025. For the reason that closure, a number of plans to rehome the orcas have been proposed and subsequently blocked or rejected. With no functioning marine sanctuary accessible, authorities say they’ve been left with restricted choices for relocation.
The federal government is now backing a switch plan that may happen earlier than the top of June and ship the 2 orcas to Loro Parque in Tenerife, whereas the dolphins could be distributed throughout a number of Spanish amenities.
Marineland’s administration helps the urgency of the transfer, warning that rising temperatures within the coming months might complicate transport and enhance stress on the animals, Good Matin experiences.
Wolfgang Kiessling, founder and president of the Loro Parque Firm, stated in an announcement to the Specific on Friday: “Loro Parque has the willingness and agency dedication to collaborate with public authorities, aiding and rescuing Wikie and Keijo and offering all its assets in order that these animals don’t die and may be hosted completely in circumstances that guarantee their safety and welfare; nevertheless, this requires the specific approval of the Spanish Authorities.”
Shortly after the federal government introduced its assist for the switch on Friday Animal welfare teams have voiced robust opposition. Having campaigned for months in opposition to transferring the orcas Wikie and Keijo to Loro Parque in Tenerife, a number of organisations criticised what they describe as a rushed determination that undermines the intent of France’s legislation banning cetacean performances.
Mimi Bekhechi, PETA’s Senior Vice President stated: “The French authorities is betraying its personal 2021 legislation by permitting Wikie and Keijo – the final two orcas imprisoned at Marineland – to be shipped to Loro Parque, a infamous marine abusement park in Tenerife, the place captive cetaceans proceed to endure and die. After a lifetime of struggling, the federal government needs to be guaranteeing these very smart, deeply social animals are re-homed to a sea sanctuary, not one other watery jail the place they’ll be compelled to entertain paying crowds. France promised to finish the exploitation of cetaceans, not export it, and we urge them to face by this dedication and do proper by these orcas.”
Sea Shepherd has accused the French state of “yielding” to industrial pressures linked to Marineland’s homeowners, who’re searching for redevelopment of the location, in line with Good Matin. The organisation C’est Assez! is demanding full publication of the CITES permits and authorized paperwork governing the transfers, arguing the transfer might breach EU guidelines if the animals are finally utilized in industrial actions.
One Voice has additionally known as on Spanish authorities to reject the switch altogether, describing Spain as “the final barrier” to stopping what it considers continued captivity. The organisation urged Spanish authorities to not approve the switch, describing the continuation of cetacean captivity as unacceptable and calling on Spain to reject the transfer.
PETA Watch has welcomed the French Authorities’s determination to approve the switch of the 2 orcas stranded in Marineland to Loro Parque. With Marineland Antibes closed since January 2025, PETA Watch stated its precedence has been to marketing campaign for the animals to be transferred to a longtime, accredited zoological facility. It stated the choice to switch the orcas to Loro Parque ensures they may obtain the knowledgeable veterinary care, and long-term stability that they want.
Brian Monteith, senior adviser to the PETA Watch, stated: “The French Authorities has made the fitting name for the wellbeing of those orcas. Confronted with fantasy options and political stress, it selected the one credible choice that safeguards their welfare. The concept, pushed by animal rights teams, that they might be positioned in a sea sanctuary is only a fantasy. The choice promoted by these teams, the Whale Sanctuary Venture in Nova Scotia stays unbuilt and unfunded – which is why they requested for $10m cost from the French authorities. The marketing campaign teams which have raised tens of millions to argue for these sanctuaries ought to hand again the cash to donors.
“The expertise of a sanctuary experiment that housed two beluga whales in Iceland highlights the dangers of campaigning constructed on aspiration moderately than supply.
“Six years after their switch, the 2 belugas have spent a complete of simply 71 days at sea. Regardless of this, campaigners continued to press for speculative options moderately than assist an instantaneous, workable resolution in a longtime facility.”
Leave a Reply