Marineland in Antibes announced today that “with great emotion and deep sadness” it will officially close its doors on 5 January 2025.
The closure of Europe’s largest marine zoo was imminent following a law passed in 2021 banning cetacean shows from December 2026, and declining visitor numbers.
Marineland’s director Pascal Picot said today that the law had delivered a “fatal blow” to the park’s economy. An earlier law in 2017 had also made a dent, and amidst controversy over keeping killer whales and dolphins in captivity, visitor figures have plummeted from 1.2 million 10 years ago to 450,000 this year.
Picot told France Bleu Azur he is “very sad” about the closure, and that the park’s priorities now are to negotiate a plan for their 103 employees’ futures and to relocate the 4,000 animals (including the orcas, dolphins, sea lions, turtles and fish).
The director said: “You know, for 50 years, millions of visitors have come to Marineland, millions, and listen to me carefully, 90% of them have come to see orcas and dolphins. So without orcas and dolphins, we simply can no longer have visitors.”
There are only two orcas (killer whales) left at Marineland – female orca Wikie and her son Keijo. She was born in 2001 and he in 2013. Marineland is reportedly allowed to keep them until 2026, but has made the decision to close the park within a month.
Animal Rights Activists Welcome News of Marineland’s Closure
Animal Rights activists have welcomed the news. PETA France said: “It’s a dream come true: Europe’s largest prison for marine animals will close! 🎉🎉🎉 This proves that we can achieve amazing results when we all take a stand together! ✊✊✊”
Campaigns to close Marineland began around ten years ago, after the release of ‘Blackfish’, a documentary about orcas in captivity. Pressure to close the tourist attraction has come from both locals and international citizens with Pamela Anderson being one of the most vocal global voices. As Honorary Peta Director, the American actress has posed for anti-Marineland posters and was in Antibes in 2017 protesting outside the park.
Not everyone has welcomed the news of the closure. Some locals pointed out that since the orcas were both born in captivity, they cannot be released into the wild, and by being moved to other parks it is just “moving the problem”.
Picot said that moving the orcas to Japan “seems to us to be the best” possibility, although this idea was previously rejected by France’s Minister of Ecological Transition.
The director said that since the park was founded 54 years ago, “our priority has been animal welfare” and that “animals remain our priority and we will take care of them until the last day as best we can as we have always done for more than fifty years.”
PETA reported on Wednesday that it is asking the park to send all animals to sanctuaries “so they can finally enjoy the quality of life they deserve”.
PETA in Australia said: “Let’s hope Sea World is next! Please join us in urging the Queensland Government to stop dolphin breeding and to allow captive dolphins to retire to a sea sanctuary.” They have published a petition for people to sign online.
Marineland was founded in 1970 by a former WW2 fighter pilot, Count Roland de La Poype, who, according to Marineland’s website, “had a very specific mission: to pass on his passion for the marine world to a wide audience in order to help them discover this fascinating universe.”
