Marineland Antibes to Relocate Final Orcas and Dolphins to Spain
Marineland Antibes has finalized plans to relocate its two remaining orcas and four dolphins to facilities in Spain, marking the permanent closure of the park in compliance with French legislation banning the exhibition of marine mammals.
The future of the final cetaceans at Marineland in Antibes is finally becoming clear after months of uncertainty. Management has finalized plans to transport the two remaining orcas and four dolphins to Spain, with the animals set to be flown out from Nice airport.
This relocation follows the permanent closure of the park, owned by the Spanish company Parques Reunidos, which ceased operations at the start of 2025. The closure was required by 2021 French legislation that banned the exhibition of marine mammals, forcing the facility to find new homes for its animals.
The park’s plan involves moving the two orcas, Wiki and Keijo, to Loro Parque in Tenerife. Due to their size and weight, this will be the most challenging part of the operation. The four dolphins will be relocated to Valencia. These moves follow the transfer of eight other dolphins to Selwo Marina in Benalmádena last July. It has been confirmed that those dolphins will remain in Spain permanently, as the Beauval Zoo has canceled its plans to build a research center to house them.
Although the park has been closed to visitors for 18 months, the animals have remained under constant care. A team of 20 professionals has continued to manage their daily feeding and maintenance. Park officials also addressed concerns regarding recent heatwaves in France, confirming that water cooling systems have kept the animals' environment stable and unaffected by external temperatures.
This marks the end of an era for what was once Europe’s largest water park. After decades of operation, the facility has closed its doors in response to shifting European ethical standards and increasing public pressure regarding the welfare of captive marine animals.