It had been mentioned for several months by animal rights associations. And this Wednesday morning, Marineland officially announced it, after having made it in CSE to its employees: the Antibes marine park will permanently close its doors in a month, on January 5.
In its press release, the park says it has been “forced to consider permanently closing the marine zoo”.
“We are acting in accordance with the 2021 law”
“This closure is the direct consequence of the application of the law of November 30, 2021 which prohibits the keeping of animals for show purposes confirms to Nice-Matin the management of the park. The public came to admire the orca and cetacean shows, this will no longer be possible. So we have no choice but to close. We therefore act in accordance with the law.” insists Marineland.
The poor economic situation also weighed heavily in the balance. “But everything is linkedtakes over the park. After the economic difficulties linked to the covid crisis, the 2021 law dealt a fatal blow and led to a lasting drop in attendance. In 10 years, attendance at Marineland has increased from 1.2 million to 425,000 visitors per year.”
The future of 103 employees in suspense
With the closure in place in a month, what will happen to the park's employees? “Within the legal framework, discussions will open in the coming days with staff representative bodies on the social and economic consequences of the closure, informs Marineland which recalls that in addition to the 103 employees, “the park is also the leading seasonal employer in the Alpes-Maritimes with around 500 jobs offered during the summer period.”
As for the animals still present in the park, alongside the last two orcas around which debates have crystallized in recent years – nearly 4,000 including the numerous aquariums – the park ensures that it is making them its own. “another priority with the future of employees”. “We will study all avenues for animals, including orcas, in close collaboration with the competent authorities. We will identify the best solutions to accommodate these cetaceans in equivalent structures in terms of quality of care and educational projects with the sole priority is the well-being of these animals.”
An upcoming transfer of orcas?
For their part, the main associations mobilized around the future of orcas, dolphins and other sea lions held in the park are not surprised by the closure announcement. But they remain very worried about the future. “We have been saying it for more than three months confides Christine Ringuet of Tilikum's Spirit. We would still like to point out that this 2021 law allows the park to keep animals, but that this solution, by far the best for their well-being, has never been considered…”
If the park denies it, the associations also question the timing of this closure announcement which comes the day before the court decision on the authorization of the transfer of the orcas. “ The coincidence questions said Muriel Arnal of One Voice. One might wonder if this is not a way for the park to put pressure on the judge by telling him: ''Look we're going to close in a month, we have to transfer the orcas as quickly as possible''. “
With this announcement, the concern of the associations has also given way today to a lot of anger. Particularly facing “to the inaction of the French government”. “The park decides to throw in the trash the animals that no longer bring it anything, just like we throw away old furniture denounces Muriel Arnal of One Voice. So it is no longer to Japan that Wikie and Keijo are going but to Loro Parque in Spain where we also know the way of doing things. Today there is no other solution because the ministry did not do what it said it would do within the framework of the 2021 law. At no time did it think about future of these animals. Wikie and Keijo are going to die and we will be there to witness it despite all our warnings.”
