Marineland d'Antibes began transferring eight of its 12 dolphins to a zoological park in Malaga, Spain, on Wednesday evening [1].
The relocation follows the closure of the French park and highlights a growing conflict between corporate animal management and animal-rights advocacy. Critics argue that moving large marine mammals across borders poses significant health and safety risks to the animals.
According to reports, the operation involves moving eight dolphins [1] out of the total 12 kept at the facility [1]. This move comes after previous plans to transfer all orcas and dolphins to Spain by the end of June 2026 [3].
The animal-rights association One Voice condemned the relocation. The group said the move was "a state scandal, a shame orchestrated by money and a high-risk journey for animals whose safety is not guaranteed" [1].
There have been conflicting reports regarding the timeline and scope of these transfers. While some reports indicate the process has started, other accounts suggested the transfer of dolphins had been postponed [2]. Additional reports indicated that some animals might have been destined for the Beauval zoo instead of Spain [2].
Despite these contradictions, the move to Malaga represents a significant step in the park's wind-down process. The facility in the Alpes-Maritimes region of France is shifting its population to maintain operations in southern Spain [1, 2].
“"a state scandal, a shame orchestrated by money"”
The transfer of marine mammals from Marineland d'Antibes reflects the precarious nature of relocating captive wildlife during facility closures. The friction between the park's operational goals and the demands of groups like One Voice underscores a broader European shift toward stricter regulations on the captivity of cetaceans, where financial interests often clash with welfare standards during animal transit.
