The devastating rains of October 3 forced the property to close its operations for the essential repair work needed to restore the ravaged premises. Management has just announced the reopening for next March 21, the first day of spring and a week before Easter celebrations.
Between the two dates, more than four months will have passed.
Four months full of controversies, following the death of an orca whose cause appeared opaque to animal associations and environmentalists, who suspected (and perhaps still suspect?) the management of mistreatment, with some calling for an independent audit under the authority of the Prefect.
The adjacent children’s farm (Kids Island) also lamented the loss of around fifty animals (ducks, rabbits, chickens, goats, and sheep).
Enough to further fuel the controversies…
Located in Antibes, the site, which includes, among other attractions, the largest water park in Europe, is the city’s largest employer, a point that carries weight in the debate.
For the upcoming season, new programs “developed and designed by the teams, based on sharing, discovery, and understanding of their passion” have been announced.
Will they be enough to stop opposition against animal captivity, which is considered a matter of principle?
Will the detractors have laid down their arms, or should we expect more disruptions and protests? We have a few weeks left to find out.
What we already know is that Tocqueville’s predictions about the danger of “the tyranny of the minorities” mentioned in his writings are, today, a reality!
