Marineland Antibes, the largest marine park attractions in Europe, presented as première on March 17, 2016, the new 2016 program.
Marineland, after suffering unprecedented damage following October 2015 exceptional bad weather, is reopening its park and hotel in the spring. The new manager, André Palu, previously CEO of MAF Leisure & Entertainment complex in Dubai and previously working at Disneyland Paris, unveiled the new program that will rhythm the 2016 season.
Born 45 years ago in the imagination of a lover of marine life, Roland de la Poype, Marineland is one of the largest wildlife center in Europe. On 25 hectares, the park employs 45 people and is home to nearly 4,000 residents of 40 different animal species. With 1.2 million visitors a year, Marineland is the first tourist site in the French Riviera.
Learn while having fun
The marine animal park now offers the public to come and learn, discover and have fun around the world of animals. Enriching encounters with school leaders are also planned. These moments will allow visitors to be aware of the different issues of the marine inhabitants (diversity, anatomy, reproduction, conservation) through guided tours, questions and answerq, commented feedings and encounters with animals.
In 2014, around 30 000 school children visited the park to introduce them to a marine wildlife they often only know through books or television.
Brand-new animal programs in 2016
For this new edition, Marineland trainers unveiled to visitors brand-new animal programs on a redesigned scenography. On giant screens, the ocean appears in its infinity and some recommendations in large letters invite to protect our oceans and preserve the food chain balance. The pedagogues trainers teams walk in the park, inviting the public to visit the Dolphinarium to witness the unique and moving demonstrations of orcas and dolphins, tender sea lions, a tad facetious, that take place on a classical melody specially composed for the park by Francois Rousselot.
An unforgettable show
The ballet of orcas and dolphins swimming on their backs, playing, making, on a gesture of trainer, kisses, spectacular jumps and even a tongue out while mimicking sometimes almost human attitudes. A video showing the animal in its natural environment allows the public to make analogies with animals presented in the basin.
A unique experience is offered to the visitor: to encounter sharks by immersing themselves – literally and figuratively – among the gray sharks, bull sharks, nurse sharks, barracudas and tropical fish of all sizes. Therefore, the orcas rides, the clowns animals animations or hoops passages were removed from the new program; the performances are always extraordinary.
Jonh Kersalow, the wildlife manager, says this program changes by little “plus” like little jingles announcing the video sequences on the protection of animals or the food chain.
Support for Marineland
Many personalities from the region came to support Marineland wildlife park and its hotly-debated opening. Around Jean Leonetti, MP Mayor of Antibes-Juan les Pins, one could see Christian Estrosi, President of the PACA Region and Mayor of Nice and Philippe Castanet, Sub-Prefect of Grasse.
The foundation Marineland
The animal park in Antibes created the Foundation Marineland in 1998. Its mission is the preservation of marine species and their environment and engages in three main areas:
– conservation: by creating and supporting protection programs including polar bears – a species particularly threatened – sea turtles, mangrove conservation and monk seals…
– raising wareness: by informing the public about the biodiversity and the environment but also by participating in awareness of external operations (beach cleanups).
– scientific research: it aims to increase knowledge about the animals and their environment to help organize their protection, such as the study of skin microbiome in marine animals, with the CNRS, the study of blue shark with Stellaris or raising baby loggerhead turtles.
The Foundation also promotes the work of the CRC (Research Centre for Conservation), which brings together the scientific programs led at the initiative of Marineland and its specialists.
About Marineland Parks
Marineland is part of the Parques Reunidos Group, one of the world’s leader in leisure park industry. The group includes 55 parks (including 8 marine ones) in 12 countries (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Argentina, United States). It is one of the leading leisure park operators in Europe and the fourth worldwide.
The group is experiencing a strong growth in Europe and internationally on the leisure market with nearly 26.2 million visitors annually.
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