Marineland Antibes to close permanently in 2025

The decision comes as a result of France’s 2021 legislation banning the use of dolphins and whales for entertainment purposes by 2026.

This closure is a significant milestone in the fight to end cetacean captivity but serious concerns remain about the future welfare of the animals currently housed at the facility. Marineland Antibes is home to two orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, 12 bottlenose dolphins, and hundreds of other animals.

Reacting to the closure, Sanne Kuijpers, Programme Manager at World Animal Protection, highlighted the urgency of ensuring the animals’ future welfare:

“World Animal Protection welcomes the closure of Marineland, Antibes, France by January 2025 but is concerned about the future welfare of the animals currently held at the facility.

“We call on Marineland and the responsible authorities to enable independent, transparent and professional assessments of the animals’ health to inform the best choice of destination facilities. These facilities should provide the animals with the highest possible welfare, an environment that enables natural behaviours, free of performing and breeding.”

Uncertain fate for Wikie and Keijo

Wikie and Keijo, both born at Marineland, have become the focus of global attention. Recent rumours that the orcas might be sold to an aquarium in Japan were dismissed following a court ruling. While French authorities have expressed a preference for relocating them to the Whale Sanctuary Project’s seaside sanctuary in Nova Scotia, Canada, this solution is not without complications.

The sanctuary, is currently under developmentand has openly expressed willingness to accept Wikie and Keijo. However, as Kuijpers emphasised, professional health assessments are critical before any transfer can take place:

“For the orcas, we urge that the Government of France does everything it can to facilitate the establishment of a seaside sanctuary off the coast of Nova Scotia. This would follow through on the General Inspectorate of the Environment and Sustainable Development’s recommendations which concluded that the Whale Sanctuary Project offers ‘the most credible innovative solution among the sanctuary projects,” said Kuijpers.

Another option is Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, where they would likely be kept in a concrete tank and routinely bred and forced to perform in circus-style shows. This venue has space following the recent death of one of its orcas, Keto. However, this would mean captivity for the rest of the orcas' lives. 

Call to the end of captive breeding

The closure of Marineland Antibes highlights the urgent need for countries worldwide to ban the breeding and capture of cetaceans. Kuijpers called on governments to take action to prevent the continuation of this cycle:

“It is vital that all countries that have captive orca and dolphin facilities implement policies that restrict their breeding and capture, to prevent venues exacerbating the problem by holding more animals captive in order to turn a profit. We need to make this the last generation of dolphins suffering in captivity.”

France’s legislation provides a roadmap for progress, but Kuijpers stressed the need for further global action:

“We also call on countries such as Greece, Canada and France to prioritise the development of seaside sanctuaries for dolphins and orcas. This will enable adequate care for animals who need it, as more and more dolphinaria will be closing their doors in the future.”