Closure of Europe's Largest Dolphinarium in Antibes Raises Concerns for Orca Welfare

antibes, france - Marineland in Antibes, the largest dolphinarium in Europe, closes its doors after more than fifty years, leaving two orcas without a new home.

Marineland in Antibes, the largest dolphinarium in Europe, closed its doors on Sunday after more than fifty years of operation. The closure comes as a result of new French legislation that will ban shows involving whales and dolphins starting in 2026. The dwindling number of visitors, dropping from 1.2 million a decade ago to 425,000 currently, also played a role in the decision. According to the management, most visitors come specifically for the orca and dolphin shows.

The dolphinarium, however, had a controversial record regarding animal welfare. Several orcas have died in recent years, with animal rights organizations attributing the deaths to the poor living conditions they were subjected to.

As the park closes, it leaves behind two orcas, 23-year-old Wikie and her 11-year-old son, Keijo. Efforts to relocate them have been challenging, as releasing them into the wild was deemed risky due to their lack of survival skills. Options like transferring them to a zoo in Japan faced opposition from the French minister, citing concerns over the animals' fragile state and weaker animal protection laws in Japan. Another possibility is moving them to a dolphinarium in Tenerife, although this is not yet confirmed. Animal welfare groups advocate for the orcas to be transferred to a nature reserve, but the French Minister of Ecological Transition stated that no current reserve can accommodate two orcas. Female orcas typically live up to 50 years, with some reaching over 80 years, while males have a lifespan of 30 to 50 years.