ANTIBES, FRANCE:
A marine park in France permanently closed its doors on Sunday due to a 2021 law prohibiting marine mammal shows, leaving the future of its last two captive orcas, along with hundreds of other animals and dozens of employees, uncertain.
The park’s final day featured a last performance by its two orcas, Wikie and Keijo, who were met with enthusiastic applause from the audience. Despite the declining attendance in recent years, many visitors and staff expressed their sorrow over the closure.
“We are heartbroken,” said Salome Mathis, a young keeper who came to say goodbye to her colleagues at the park.
The two orcas face an unclear future, with animal rights groups protesting plans to transfer them to Japan, a move opposed by France’s ecology minister due to concerns over Japan’s animal welfare standards.
In addition to the orcas, around 4,000 animals from 150 species, including dolphins, sea lions, and turtles, are left without a clear plan for their relocation.
Marineland, located near Antibes on the French Riviera, faced criticism earlier this year following the deaths of two orcas within five months. Once a premier destination with 1.2 million visitors annually, attendance had dwindled to 425,000 over the past decade. The park employed 103 permanent staff and around 500 seasonal workers.
“I understand the closure due to reduced attendance, but Iβm disappointed because we could have adapted,” said Jeremy Lo Vasco, a 34-year-old keeper with ten years of experience.
The closure stems from a combination of factors, including the devastating 2015 floods, the 2013 documentary “Blackfish” exposing the mistreatment of captive cetaceans, and the impact of the Covid pandemic. The park’s owner, the Spanish group Parques Reunidos, has decided to permanently shut down, with only summer recreational activities planned moving forward.
