Marineland of Antibes

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Marineland of Antibes
Vue globale bassins Marineland.jpg
Global view of the killer whales tanks
Marineland of Antibes
Type Amusement park, dolphinarium, public aquarium, marine zoo
Location Antibes, France
Area26 ha
Created1970
ClosedJanuary 5, 2025 (2025-01-05)
Operated by Parques Reunidos

The Marineland of Antibes is a theme park founded in 1970 by Count Roland de La Poype in Antibes (Alpes-Maritimes), in the French Riviera. Covering 26 hectares, it includes 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 is the property of the Spanish multinational company Parques Reunidos, whose main shareholder are the investment funds EQT Partners and Elliott Management. Since 2017, the director is Pascal Picot. [5]

Contents

It is one of the four French dolphinariums and one of the two European dolphinariums presenting orcas. With over 850,000 visitors in 2018, [6] it's 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 December 4th, 2024, Marineland of Antibes announced it would close permanently in January 5th, 2025 due to declining attendance and increased regulation of animal captivity in France. [7]

History

On July 25, 2006, the park was sold to the Spanish amusement park group Parques Reunidos for about 75 million. [8]

In October 2015, a fatal case of severe flooding and inclement weather conditions hit Antibes, [9] killing Valentin, a 19-year old male orca born within captivity inside the park. [10] The park was deluged with mud, also killing sharks, sea lions and turtles, because it was left without electricity to pump in clean water. [11]

Notable exhibits and shows

The Shark Tunnel Funala55.JPG
The Shark Tunnel
California sea lion housed in the park Zalotttt.JPG
California sea lion housed in the park

Orca Show

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. [12]

Dolphin show

As 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)

A 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

In 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 manta rays.

Polar bears

On June 11, 2021, polar bears Flocke, Indiana, Tala, and Yuma are no longer housed within Mainland, France, having been moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park. [13]

Activities

Encounters

Dolphin

For €70, guests can spend 20 minutes wading in the dolphin tank while learning more about the animals as taught by trainers.

Orca

For €69, guests can spend 25 minutes interacting with orcas at "Orca Fjord" through a large panoramic window, with the aid and education of trainers. [14]

Sea Lion

For €39, guests can spend 20 minutes with sea lions in a private area and two trainers. [15]

Sharks

For €60, guests can don a diving suit and helmet to swim with sharks in the Shark Tunnel. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolphin</span> Marine mammals, closely related to whales and porpoises

A dolphin is an aquatic mammal in the clade Odontoceti. Dolphins belong to the families Delphinidae, Platanistidae, Iniidae, Pontoporiidae, and possibly extinct Lipotidae. There are 40 extant species named as dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orca</span> Largest living species of dolphin

The orca, or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. It is the only extant species in the genus Orcinus and is recognizable by its black-and-white patterned body. A cosmopolitan species, they are found in diverse marine environments, from Arctic to Antarctic regions to tropical seas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SeaWorld</span> American theme park chain

SeaWorld is an American theme park chain with headquarters in Orlando, Florida. It is a proprietor of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, animal theme parks, and rehabilitation centers owned by United Parks & Resorts. The parks host shows starring marine mammals, especially dolphins and pinnipeds, as well as zoological displays featuring various other marine animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marineland of the Pacific</span> Former tourist attraction on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, California

Marineland of the Pacific was a public oceanarium and tourist attraction located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula coast in Los Angeles County, California. Architect William Pereira designed the main structure. It was also known as Hanna-Barbera's Marineland during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Marineland operated from 1954 until 1987, when it was purchased by the owners of SeaWorld San Diego. The new owners moved the popular killer whales and other animals to their San Diego facility and abruptly closed Marineland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolphinarium</span> Aquarium for dolphins

A dolphinarium is an aquarium for dolphins. The dolphins are usually kept in a pool, though occasionally they may be kept in pens in the open sea, either for research or public performances. Some dolphinariums consist of one pool where dolphins perform for the public, others are part of larger parks, such as marine mammal parks, zoos or theme parks, with other animals and attractions as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marineland of Florida</span> United States historic place

Marineland of Florida, one of Florida's first marine mammal parks, is billed as "the world's first oceanarium". Marineland functions as an entertainment and swim-with-the-dolphins facility, and reopened to the public on March 4, 2006. In 2011, the park was purchased by the Georgia Aquarium for a reported $9.1 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marineland of Canada</span> Theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario

Marineland is a themed zoo and amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. It is operating on a reduced scale while it is slated for redevelopment. No amusement rides are operating and it is claimed that all land animals have been transferred from the facility, however videos in 2024 showed large numbers of deer and some bears still on site. The park continues to exhibit dolphins and beluga whales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loro Parque</span> Zoo in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Loro Parque or 'Loro Park' is a 135,000 m2 zoo on the outskirts of Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife, Spain where it houses an extensive and diverse reserve of animal and plant species. The park was conceived as a paradise for parrots and has developed over the years into one of the biggest attractions of the Canary Islands, with over 40 million visitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolphin drive hunting</span> Method of hunting dolphins

Dolphin drive hunting, also called dolphin drive fishing, is a method of hunting dolphins and occasionally other small cetaceans by driving them together with boats, usually into a bay or onto a beach. Their escape is prevented by closing off the route to the open sea or ocean with boats and nets. Dolphins are hunted this way in several places around the world including the Solomon Islands, the Faroe Islands, Peru, and Japan, which is the most well-known practitioner of the method. In large numbers dolphins are mostly hunted for their meat; some end up in dolphinariums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SeaWorld San Diego</span> Theme park in San Diego, California

SeaWorld San Diego is a theme park in Mission Bay Park in San Diego, California. It is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, public aquarium, and marine animal rehabilitation center. SeaWorld, the theme park's proprietor, is owned and operated by United Parks & Resorts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine mammal park</span> Type of amusement park

A marine mammal park is a commercial theme park or aquarium where marine mammals such as dolphins, beluga whales and sea lions are kept within water tanks and displayed to the public in special shows. A marine mammal park is more elaborate than a dolphinarium, because it also features other marine mammals and offers additional entertainment attractions. It is thus seen as a combination of a public aquarium and an amusement park. Marine mammal parks are different from marine parks, which include natural reserves and marine wildlife sanctuaries such as coral reefs, particularly in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven Seas Marine Life Park</span> Former marine mammal park and animal theme park in Arlington, Texas

Seven Seas Marine Life Park was a marine mammal park, and animal theme park built and owned by the city of Arlington, Texas, United States. It opened in March 1972, but ended up closing in 1976 after losing millions of dollars.

Orcas are large, powerful aquatic apex predators. There have been incidents where orcas were perceived to attack humans in the wild, but such attacks are less common than those by captive orcas. In captivity, there have been several non-fatal and four fatal attacks on humans since the 1970s. Experts are divided as to whether the injuries and deaths were accidental or deliberate attempts to cause harm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captive orcas</span> Orcas held in confinement

Dozens of orcas are held in captivity for breeding or performance purposes. The practice of capturing and displaying orcas in exhibitions began in the 1960s, and they soon became popular attractions at public aquariums and aquatic theme parks due to their intelligence, trainability, striking appearance, playfulness, and sheer size. As of 24 March 2024, around 55 orcas are in captivity worldwide, 33 of which were captive-born. At that time, there were 18 orcas in the SeaWorld parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea Life Park Hawaii</span> Marine mammal park, bird sanctuary and aquarium on the island of Oahu, US

Sea Life Park Hawaii is a marine mammal park, bird sanctuary and aquarium in Waimānalo near Makapuʻu Point, north of Hanauma Bay on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. The park first opened in 1964 and was acquired in 2008 by Palace Entertainment, the U.S. subsidiary of Parques Reunidos from Dolphin Discovery, which had acquired it in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulises (orca)</span> Captive male orca (born c. 1977)

Ulises is a male orca who lives at SeaWorld San Diego in California. He was captured off the coast of Iceland in 1980 and is currently the oldest male orca in captivity as of 2022. SeaWorld San Diego celebrates his birthday on 2 January every year.

Wikie is a female Orca who lives at the Marineland of Antibes in Antibes, France. Her mother was Sharkane and her father was Kim II. Her elder sister is Shouka, her elder brother was Inouk and her elder son was Moana.

Marineland of South Australia was a public aquarium and wildlife park in West Beach, South Australia that opened in 1969 and closed permanently in 1988.

References

  1. "Discover our other water park: Marineland Lagoon". Marineland. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  2. "Kid's Island Park". Marineland. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  3. "A giant mini-golf course in Antibes near Marineland | Adventure Golf Park". Marineland. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  4. "Check Our Hotel". Marineland. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  5. "Antibes : Marineland rouvre ses portes ce lundi". CNEWS (in French). March 21, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  6. "Côte d'Azur: main tourist attractions 2018". Statista. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  7. Bazizin, L., Richier, A., Chapelard, R., Alphonse, C. (2024), Antibes : Marineland annonce une fermeture définitive le 5 janvier 2025 , retrieved December 4, 2024
  8. Tourmag.com
  9. Elgot, Jessica (October 4, 2015). "French floods: 19 feared dead after storms sweep French Riviera". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  10. "Killer Whale Dies at Marineland Antibes in Aftermath of Park Flooding". InPark Magazine. October 12, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  11. "Activists launch legal action against French marine park over orcas". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. March 27, 2016. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  12. "Activists launch legal action against French marine park over orcas". One Voice. Agence France-Presse. March 27, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  13. "Captive polar bears: Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster, England, UK". Bear Conservation. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  14. "Killer Whales". Marineland. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  15. "Sea Lion Encounter". Marineland. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  16. "Shark Encounter". Marineland. Retrieved October 10, 2023.

43°36′54″N7°07′30″E / 43.6150°N 7.1250°E / 43.6150; 7.1250