Marineland of Antibes
The Marineland of Antibes was a theme park founded in 1970 by Count Roland de La Poype in Antibes, in the French Riviera. It included a marine zoological park with dolphinarium, a water park, a children's play park, mini golf and a hotel. It was property of the Spanish multinational company Parques Reunidos.
It was one of the four French dolphinariums and one of the two European dolphinariums presenting orcas. With over 850,000 visitors in 2018, it was the most visited site in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
Since 2010, it has been accused of cetacean mistreatment, with the claim that dolphinariums can't assure proper and healthy captivity conditions for that species.
Following a 2021 law banning marine mammal performances as of 2026, Marineland of Antibes closed permanently on 5 January 2025 due to declining attendance and increased regulation of animal captivity in France. When the facility closed, arrangements were not made for the transfer of the animals and at least 14 animals, including mother and son orcas Wikie and Keijo remain in the facility. Drone footage that has been captured reveals that rust and thick green algae were present in the tank.
The Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia, which is not yet built, hopes the orcas can find placement there. This solution was previously rejected by the French government, yet the Project recently made clear that they are continuing their efforts in France for Wikie and Keijo.
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History
On 25 July 2006, the park was sold to the Spanish amusement park group Parques Reunidos for about €75 million.In October 2015, a fatal case of severe flooding and inclement weather conditions hit Antibes, killing Valentin, a 19-year old male orca born within the park. The park was deluged with mud, also killing sharks, sea lions and turtles, because it was left without electricity to pump in clean water.