His speech has been rare for several months. The director of the Marineland marine zoo in Antibes spoke today. After announcing the closure of the park in January 2025, he expressed his bitterness and said he was acting with “responsibility”.
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In more than 50 years of presence in Antibes, Marineland has established itself as an institution in the world of shows around marine animals. However, in recent years, the park has been overwhelmed by controversies over animal protection.
While a law enacted in 2021 will prevent it from keeping some of its cetaceans, Marineland has announced its closure within a month, January 5, 2025.
ALSO READ > “We are very worried that it is going so quickly”: Marineland in Antibes will close on January 5, 2025
“All this is destined to disappear”explained Pascal Picot, director of Marineland Antibes, to France 3 Côte d’Azur. “We are bitter but we respect the law and we act responsibly.”
The director recalls in particular that “Park attendance has been declining for several years now.” Marineland will notably have to find a solution for the hundred or so employees who will mostly be out of work from January.
“I would like to thank these 103 employees who have devoted half their lives to the well-being of animals and to the wonder of millions of visitors. Today, they will indeed be affected by the park closure project. negotiations and discussions will begin very soon with the social partners.”
The relocation of the animals to other parks has been under consideration for several years already, the director also tells us.
ALSO READ > “It’s a relief”: Marineland orcas will not go to Japan, reaction from animal rights activists
“Since the law was published in 2021, we have been working with experts from around the world.”
Animal rights associations are keeping a close eye on this issue: they would particularly like to avoid at all costs a transfer of cetaceans outside the European Union, where regulations would be much less regulated.
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