The Marineland of Antibes was a theme park founded in 1970 by Count Roland de La Poype in Antibes (Alpes-Maritimes), in the French Riviera. It included a marine zoological park with dolphinarium,[1] a water park (Aquasplash), a children's play park (Kid's Island),[2] mini golf (Adventure Golf)[3] and a hotel (Marineland Resort).[4] It was property of the Spanish multinational company Parques Reunidos.
| Marineland of Antibes | |
|---|---|
 Global view of the killer whales tanks | |
 | |
| Type | Amusement park, dolphinarium, public aquarium, marine zoo |
| Location | Antibes, France |
| Area | 26 ha |
| Created | 1970 |
| Closed | 5 January 2025 |
| Operated by | Parques Reunidos |
It was one of the four French dolphinariums and one of the two European dolphinariums presenting orcas. With over 850,000 visitors in 2018,[5] it was the most visited site in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
Since 2010, it has been accused of cetacean mistreatment, with the claim that dolphinariums can't assure proper & healthy captivity conditions for that species.
On 4 December 2024, Marineland of Antibes announced it would close permanently on 5 January 2025 due to declining attendance and increased regulation of animal captivity in France.[6]
History
editOn 25 July 2006, the park was sold to the Spanish amusement park group Parques Reunidos for about €75 million.[7]
In October 2015, a fatal case of severe flooding and inclement weather conditions hit Antibes,[8] killing Valentin, a 19-year old male orca born within the park.[9] The park was deluged with mud, also killing sharks, sea lions and turtles, because it was left without electricity to pump in clean water.[10]
Notable exhibits and shows
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Orca Show
editOnce the largest Orca pool complex in the Europe, with a capacity of 11,000,000 US gallons (42,000 m3) of water and a panoramic glass wall 64 metres (210 ft) long. Marineland holds two orcas: Wikie and Keijo. The two orcas were supposed to be transported to Japan in 2024 but French NGO One Voice obtained that the court prohibit Marineland from relocating the orcas before the end of the independent assessment.[11]
Dolphin show
editAs of April 2020, Marineland housed a total of 12 bottlenose dolphins. The names of the dolphins are: Malou (F), Sharky (F), Rocky (M), Dam (M), Neo (M), Nala (F), Tux (M), Ania (F), Jo (F), Kai (M), Luà (F), and Ollie (F).
Les Coulisses de l'apprentissage (sea lion show)
editA live demonstration of the training techniques used with all the mammals in the park, in which the seal and sea lion trainers disclose some of the "ropes" for preparing the show, to better understand the basis of the relationship between humans and animals.
The shark tunnel
editIn a 30-metre (98 ft) tunnel through an aquarium containing nearly 2,000,000 litres (530,000 US gal) of water, visitors are surrounded by sharks and stingrays.
Polar bears
editOn 11 June 2021, polar bears Flocke, Indiana, Tala, and Yuma are no longer housed within Mainland, France, having been moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park.[12]
Activities
editEncounters
editDolphin
editGuests could spend 20 minutes wading in the dolphin tank while learning more about the animals as taught by trainers.[1]
Orca
editGuests could spend 25 minutes interacting with orcas at "Orca Fjord" through a large panoramic window, with the aid and education from trainers.[13]
Sea Lion
editGuests could spend 20 minutes with sea lions in a private area and two trainers.[14]
Sharks
editGuests could obtain a diving suit and helmet to swim with sharks in the Shark Tunnel.[15]
Gallery
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Antarctica Zone with king penguins, southern rockhopper penguins, gentoo penguins and macaroni penguins -
Dolphin show
References
edit- ^ "Discover our other water park: Marineland Lagoon". Marineland. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Kid's Island Park". Marineland. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "A giant mini-golf course in Antibes near Marineland | Adventure Golf Park". Marineland. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Check Our Hotel". Marineland. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Côte d'Azur: main tourist attractions 2018". Statista. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ Bazizin, L., Richier, A., Chapelard, R., Alphonse, C. (2024), Antibes : Marineland annonce une fermeture définitive le 5 janvier 2025, retrieved 4 December 2024
- ^ Tourmag.com
- ^ Elgot, Jessica (4 October 2015). "French floods: 19 feared dead after storms sweep French Riviera". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Killer Whale Dies at Marineland Antibes in Aftermath of Park Flooding". InPark Magazine. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Activists launch legal action against French marine park over orcas". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 27 March 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Activists launch legal action against French marine park over orcas". One Voice. Agence France-Presse. 27 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Captive polar bears: Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster, England, UK". Bear Conservation. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Killer Whales". Marineland. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Sea Lion Encounter". Marineland. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Shark Encounter". Marineland. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
External links
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