Marineland has closed its doors. This means a move for 4,000 animals. Loro Parque is reportedly being considered as a new home for the orcas living there. Following the recent deaths of three orcas on Tenerife, this could mean that new animals might be brought to the Canary Islands.
Marineland on the Côte d’Azur has generated significant revenue since it opened in 1970. However, a new national law bans whale and dolphin shows from 2026. As visitor numbers had already fallen by just under two-thirds, the park’s management decided to close the park early. The animal shows at Marineland were staged for the very last time at the end of the Christmas holidays.
Loro Parque on Tenerife has lost four orcas in the space of three years. The animals died for various reasons (more on this in the article at the end of the text). As Marineland needs to find new homes for all its animals as quickly as possible following its closure, the search is now on for potential buyers. And Loro Parque is considered a prime candidate.
French orcas for Loro Parque on Tenerife?
Most visitors went to Marineland to see the dolphins and orcas. In a statement regarding its closure, the zoo reported that 90 per cent of visitors had come to the park for that reason alone. As a result of the new law, it said, the economic basis for continuing operations had therefore been lost.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher is France’s Minister for Ecological Transition. She announced that she would „examine, together with the park’s management, the possible options for the two orcas, Wikie and his son Keijo“.
Wikie is 23 years old, and Keljo is eleven. Pannier-Runacher said that releasing either animal into the sea was not an option, as they had lost their natural instincts whilst in captivity.
The park had considered sending the orcas to Japan. However, the Ministry rejected this. The reason given was „their fragile condition“, it was said. Transporting them by ship over thousands of kilometres would pose „a significant risk to their health“.
Loro Parque on Tenerife as an option for both orcas
There, too, both orcas would have lived in a commercially operated environment. And the standards there were not comparable to those in Europe, was another objection raised.
Marineland stated that this was the reason why Loro Parque had been considered. Although the zoo in Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife is only one of several options, it is being given serious consideration.
The animal welfare organisation ‚One Voice‘ suggested a nature reserve in Canada as an alternative. The two orcas would be well looked after in Nova Scotia. However, the reserve is not yet operational.
The minister has so far remained deliberately vague. Marineland could currently „put forward proposals“. However, as „there is as yet no rescue centre in the world capable of accommodating two orcas“, relocation to a zoo is considered likely. And Loro Parque on Tenerife would have space, for a sad reason, as the following article shows:
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