ZooParc de Beauval Beauval's Dolphin Project

jopif

jopif

Well-Known Member
Summary of the current situation
In November 2025, the French government officially announced its support for the creation of a new Centre for Dolphin Research, Scientific Study and Rescue (CERSSD) at the ZooParc de Beauval. The project was developed at the government’s request and in consultation with animal-welfare NGOs, as a response to the closure of Marineland Antibes.

Scheduled to open in March/April 2027, the centre would be designed to accommodate 20–30 bottlenose dolphins in seven pools, including three large landscaped lagoons with over 30,000 m³ of artificial seawater. The design mentions inclusion of natural-style elements such as beaches, rock formations, wave and current systems, as well as schools of fish to allow natural feeding behaviours and enrichment. Additional features include hidden retreat spaces, medical pools and underwater viewing galleries.

The centre is expected to receive the 11 dolphins currently held at Planète Sauvage and could later accommodate the 12 dolphins from Marineland Antibes, whose future remains under negotiation (a part of them could move to spanish delphinariums such as Selwo Marina or Oceanogràfic).

According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the project will comply with the French Animal Welfare Law of 30 November 2021 (Loi n° 2021-1539), which bans cetacean performances and reproduction in captivity. The law was subsequently amended (via decree in 2023) to allow certain facilities to retain dolphins if they can demonstrate a genuine role in scientific research and conservation.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2026 with an estimated cost around €25–30 million. The facility will also serve as a platform for education, field training, rescue and rehabilitation readiness, acoustic monitoring of wild populations, and research into physiology, immunity and responses to environmental change.
 
Sounds interesting (curious if it will be open to public) just one teensy problem is that the Marineland dolphins CAN'T wait 2 YEARS! They need to be moved ASAP to an already functional facility, so many opportunities have been denied b/c government rather listen/follow AR ideology rather than real welfare of the animals. (At this point I know this has been argumented for some time already so I'm sorry for being a broken record, I can't help but feel like things have been getting unnecessarily worse for the Marineland situation)
 
peruvianbirdie said:
curious if it will be open to public
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They will, it has been confirmed in the official video on every Beauval social media page. It's also said in it that dolphins will get hiding places if they want to be isolated from the public.

Just scrolling throught the comments is a masterpiece of a circus... Every comment that is not praising the project or fearing for the orcas(and that's normal), it's crybabies or fanatics calling Beauval a cash-grab, a money starving monster that doesn't give a f**k about animals and that's it's against the law.

Just saying that: Breeding and transferts are allowed by the very same law that they praised some years ago(Ironic...).

Anywas, i'm personnaly hyper by the project, because it sounds and looks according to the concept arts revolutionnary ! It could become a new standard if dolphin exhibition in Europe or even the world.
 
From the concepts I've seen it looks amazing. Reminds me of dolfinarium harderwijk and the concepts for the renovated Brookfield Zoo dolphinarium. As other commenters have said, assuming this goes well, I hope projects like this become the new standard going forward for exhibiting cetaceans.
 
I'm very interesting to see how this pans out. I think attempts to progress and innovate in cetacean husbandry and exhibitry have fallen behind significantly due to the anti-captivity backlash creating a fear of investment, and it will be welcome to see some modern attempts to improve standards and try new things to make these animals more happy and comfortable. It would be wonderful if we could make some positive advancements.
 
Is there a reason why none of the existing dolphinariums aimed to operate as a facility with scientific research and conservation?
 
Just saying this but, is it normal/okay to fear another cancellation ? Because judging by this nightmare that Marineland's affair is, activists might find another way to block the dolphins...AGAIN !

I'm aware that at least, Planète Sauvage's dolphins will 100% go to Beauval, but won't the project be cancelled/sabotaged by the activists ? I may be paranoid but i just want to be sure that their petitions is nothing more than as i said some months ago "de la poudre aux yeux". and we know what happened back in 2016 when a similar project was thought at Beauval

I want to be sure because this project is really promising and these animals DESERVE to live in good conditions.
 
@aquaticpencil well, one of theme is already closed and the dolphins from the second remaining french park are supposed to move in at Beauval. But you're right maybe they tried, then it would be interesting to know why they failed.
 
BlobfishBoy said:
From the concepts I've seen it looks amazing. Reminds me of dolfinarium harderwijk and the concepts for the renovated Brookfield Zoo dolphinarium. As other commenters have said, assuming this goes well, I hope projects like this become the new standard going forward for exhibiting cetaceans.
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Where could I see these concept renderings? I tried searching and came up empty...
 
Is it known were in Beauval the dolphin center will be built? With all the hilly terrain i wouldnt know where to easily place the complex.
 
The project looks amazing, a very needed change of mind on the way cetaceans are show in most parks. But is a pity that Planete Sauvage is phasing out the dolphins. Their enclosure is one of the newests and biggers in Europe, there are many other dolphins that would need the transfer to Beauval much more than them.
 
Merintia said:
The project looks amazing, a very needed change of mind on the way cetaceans are show in most parks. But is a pity that Planete Sauvage is phasing out the dolphins. Their enclosure is one of the newests and biggers in Europe, there are many other dolphins that would need the transfer to Beauval much more than them.
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I totally agree on this. I wonder if some other parks in Europe will consider sending their dolphins there.. maybe Kolmarden as they wanted to send them to China but project is currently on hold? Or Boudewijn as it is one of few amusement parks with dolphins left in Europe (plus the enclosure is not that nice to look at)?
 
Beauval just posted a video about the project, clarifying some aspects:
Breeding will be done but that's not urgent for now as they are enough dolphins in Europe. Anytime there will be breeding, that's going to be talked in reunions before and for the social well being of the dophins.

About transferts, this is going to be if a dolphin is excluded from the pod and the destination would only be a place that has similar/better structures than Beauval.

Rodolphe Delord also reminded that it wasn't his project to begin with and that if something else as good or better would be proposed, he would stop this project and help the other. He agrees to help some sanctuary projects.

That sounds okay but to me, he knows that no one can propose something similar in France, not anytime soon, so the "Beauval dolphins" are safe
 
It looks like something good might actually come out of this mess, which is great. A new change of heart of the government could always make the whole project collapse, but I get the feeling that they are just relieved that a solution could be found that doesn't make them look bad.

That being said, I am a bit saddened by this new elitism when it comes to cetacean captivity. You can't keep cetaceans unless you are the number 1 zoo in the country and you build the most incredibly expensive pool complex. I like medium-sized dolphinariums (especially the ones that are inside zoos) and I think they are doing a decent job at keeping dolphins, but they are getting increasingly rare in Europe and everyone seems to think that's a good thing.
 
The complex (based on clues from the overhead rendering) will most likely be located on the land between Rte de la Poterie and La Poterie-Sud. It will continue the expansion that began with the new large South American aviary. It will also be virtually visible from the stands of the bird show, as it is directly in front of it.
Haasje said:
Is it known were in Beauval the dolphin center will be built? With all the hilly terrain i wouldnt know where to easily place the complex.
Click to expand...
 
Raptorblack226 said:
Just saying this but, is it normal/okay to fear another cancellation ? Because judging by this nightmare that Marineland's affair is, activists might find another way to block the dolphins...AGAIN !

I'm aware that at least, Planète Sauvage's dolphins will 100% go to Beauval, but won't the project be cancelled/sabotaged by the activists ? I may be paranoid but i just want to be sure that their petitions is nothing more than as i said some months ago "de la poudre aux yeux". and we know what happened back in 2016 when a similar project was thought at Beauval

I want to be sure because this project is really promising and these animals DESERVE to live in good conditions.
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Sorry, on the side of the anti marine mammal/whales spectrum rationale nor scientific background and data are few and far between. There is alot of framing and "faked up" narrative that is particularly unhealthy for any good husbandry and animal management program for dolphins in public dolphinaria and scientific marine facilities.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Sorry, on the side of the anti marine mammal/whales spectrum rationale nor scientific background and data are few and far between. There is alot of framing and "faked up" narrative that is particularly unhealthy for any good husbandry and animal management program for dolphins in public dolphinaria and scientific marine facilities.
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So, their petition won't change anything ? They're already at 21 000 signatures and i'm literally sick of this mess with dolphins...
 
I am not a biggest fan of cetaceans in captivity.
I can conceive how the new facilities might possibly be seen as limiting… even if they will be top of the line in Europe.
But you know what? I don’t care anymore.
All this time… for more than 20 years.. these interest groups have pedalled the idea of a hypothetical marine sanctuary as the only good option for rehoming captive cetaceans.
And with all the money they’ve received, not to mention social support… what has happened? Nothing. Lolita died, and the orcas at Antibes are still stuck in bureaucratic hell. As are the dolphins there.
I have all but lost faith in the idea of the marine sanctuary as these activists propose it. And I am glad to see that Beauval at least has the drive and resources to create what will likely be the only option for many captive cetaceans.
 
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