Yesterday, the Marineland water park closed its doors permanently. The reason? A lack of attendance since the ban on shows.
After 55 years of activity, Marineland is closing its doors permanently due to a drop in attendance. But the water park still has 4,000 animals. What will become of these? We tell you more.
Marineland closes permanently
Yesterday was the last day of Marineland. The water park is permanently closing. The reason? A real drop in attendance due to the ban on cetacean shows since 2021. On their websitethe announcement is official.
“While 90% of visitors choose to come to Marineland to admire the representations of orcas and dolphins, the law of November 30, 2021, prohibiting cetacean shows, requires Marineland to consider this closure”. announced the park in a press release.
With this closure, the issue of animals comes back to the fore. Because 2 orcas are still in the water park. Marineland had requested a transfer to Japan. Transfer which was refused by the French government.
Because in Japan “ there are no such extensive regulations on animal welfare” explained Agnès Pannier-Runacher. Since then, the water park has been trying to find solutions to transfer all its animals.
In recent years, animals have been much more protected in France. Fort Boyard has also had to remove his tigers of the show. Parc Astérix for his part to do shows with the dolphins.
Where will the park’s 4,000 animals go?
Unfortunately, the two orcas as well as other aquatic animals cannot be released into the sea. Having been born in captivity, this would be assured death. We must therefore find other solutions. Like transfer to other water parks.
The associations for their part would like the orcas to be placed in sanctuaries. But it costs a lot of money. And we must not forget that Marineland contains 4,000 animals in all. Counting 12 dolphins but also sharks, fish and certain species of birds.
We will therefore have to find solutions for everyone. And it’s not easy. The operation could last several months, explains the water park to Le Parisien. Most of the 4,000 animals will be sent in zoos or reserves« according to management.
But associations like “Enough!” » fear that the closure of Marineland causes the death of many animals. But also euthanasia when we know that places in European parks are rare.
Animal welfare is being discussed more and more. Whether at school or even in the latest laws. On the government side, there are no regrets about the closure of the water park.
“It’s a page that is turning. These shows are made for men, they are not natural for animals. There will always be the possibility of observing these animals in zoos or sanctuaries“. explains Agnès Pannier-Runacher to BFMTV.
These animals unfortunately cannot not find the ocean which is their natural habitat. But Marineland is committed to finding a solution for these 4,000 animals despite the closure of the park. A page is turning for all employees.
For their part, the C’est Enough! proposes to the park to transform the site in sanctuary to avoid transfers. The park has not provided a response to this proposal.
