Reports indicate that the 12 dolphins currently housed at Marineland Antibes will soon be relocated. In July, the animals are expected to be split between two Spanish facilities: four dolphins will be transferred to Oceanogràfic in Valencia, while the remaining eight will move to Selwo Marina in Málaga. Oceanogràfic currently holds 18 bottlenose dolphins, the majority of which are captive-born, although some individuals were originally wild-caught from Cuban and Russian waters. By contrast, Selwo Marina currently has no dolphins on site, with its dolphin facilities standing empty in anticipation of the new arrivals.
The long-term plan is reportedly for all 12 dolphins to be transferred to ZooParc de Beauval once its new dolphinarium becomes operational, reportedly scheduled for March or April 2027. However, concerns remain regarding the future of the eight dolphins destined for Beauval. In 2025, Parques Reunidos – the company that owns both Marineland Antibes and Selwo Marina – transferred nine bottlenose dolphins from Selwo Marina to Hainan Ocean Paradise in China. This was not an isolated case; Parques Reunidos had previously sent its dolphins from Madrid Zoo Aquarium and Aquopolis Costa Daurada to the same Chinese facility.
Given this history, we question whether the eight dolphins scheduled to be moved to Selwo Marina will remain in Europe until Beauval’s dolphinarium is completed, or whether they may be subjected to another transfer before that time.
Image courtesy One Voice
