Eight dolphins from Marineland in Antibes left France this Thursday to join the Selwo Marina in Benalmadena, near Malaga. The operation took place at night, with the animals transported by truck to Spain . The Antibes park, closed since January 2025, now has only four dolphins remaining on its site. The associations Sea Shepherd and One Voice strongly criticize this summer transfer, which they consider dangerous for the cetaceans.
Weakened infrastructure
The fragile state of Marineland's infrastructure prompted this emergency evacuation. The park has not welcomed visitors for eighteen months. A 2021 law prohibits the captivity of cetaceans in France, making any replenishment of the population impossible. The park's management has chosen to entrust some of its residents to a Spanish facility where they can continue to live in tanks.
The fate of the four remaining dolphins in Antibes remains uncertain. Animal rights activists are calling for their placement in marine sanctuaries rather than in other amusement parks. The gradual dismantling of Marineland raises questions about the future of these captive-born mammals, which cannot be released into the sea.
