Parc Astérix has confirmed that all their dolphins have left the facility – except for 39-year-old Femke who has been euthanized.
As previously reported, two dolphins Guama and Cecil were transported to Kölmarden Wildlife Park, Sweden on January 23. On January 30, three others Bahia, Beauty and Belize were sent to Mundomar in Benidorm, Spain and the remaining two Baïly and Aya were transported to Oceanografic in Valencia, Spain on January 31.
Plans were to move Femke to Planète Sauvage park in France, however for the past 4 years she suffered from Cushing’s syndrome and with her health deteriorating, vets advised for the female dolphin to be euthanized. Marine Connection campaigns director Margaux Dodds comments; “It is heartbreaking that Femke had to tolerate so much during her life in captivity. It was notable that her condition deteriorated further when in 2016, her only son Ekinox was separated from her and sent to Attica Park, Greece and as the disease took hold of her – with skin lesions, blistering, difficulty moving, unable to dive properly or stay underwater, she more often than not lay motionless in the corner of her tank. It is a tragic loss of life.”
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