Marineland Dolphins to Transfer to Beauval Zoo in 2027, Orca Future Still Uncertain

Antibes, France – After years of debate and a shifting landscape for cetacean welfare, the French government has officially approved the transfer of 23 dolphins from Marineland in Antibes and Planète Sauvage to the Beauval Zoo in the Loir-et-Cher region, with the move expected to take place in 2027. The decision, announced on February 16, 2026, follows a 2021 law prohibiting orca and dolphin shows in France and aims to address the future of captive marine mammals.

A Long-Awaited Decision

Marineland, a once-popular aquatic park, closed to the public in January 2025, grappling with declining attendance and the impending ban on cetacean shows. The fate of the remaining animals – two orcas and a dozen dolphins – has been a subject of intense discussion between the park’s management, animal welfare organizations, and government officials. A meeting convened by the Minister Delegate for Ecological Transition, Mathieu Lefèvre, on February 16th, brought all parties to the table to finalize a plan.

Beauval Zoo Selected as Dolphin Destination

The government considers the transfer to Beauval Zoo to be a settled matter, potentially occurring within a year. Rodolphe Delord, the director of ZooParc (Beauval), confirmed the validation by the minister, though he emphasized that the agreement is not yet finalized and further discussions are needed France3 Regions. A final decision is expected by the complete of March 2026 Le Monde.

Orca Transfer Remains Unresolved

The future of Marineland’s two orcas, Wikie and Keijo, remains uncertain. Concerns have been raised about the structural integrity of their pool, with an expert report warning of potential collapse Le Monde. Previous proposals to transfer the orcas to a park in Japan and to Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, were rejected by the ministry, the latter due to concerns about the size of the pools Le Monde.

NGOs Advocate for Sanctuaries

Animal welfare organizations, such as Sea Shepherd France, continue to advocate for the creation of a Mediterranean sanctuary for the orcas. Paul Watson, representing Sea Shepherd, offered to contribute €500,000 annually towards the upkeep of the orcas at Marineland while a sanctuary is established Le Monde.

Ongoing Debate

The decision to transfer the dolphins to Beauval Zoo has sparked continued debate, with some organizations arguing that any form of captivity is detrimental to the animals’ well-being Radio France. The government maintains that the move is the best available solution given the circumstances and the animals’ inability to be released into the wild.

The situation remains fluid, with a final decision on the orcas’ fate expected by the end of March 2026.