Marineland's dolphins begin flight to Spain amid controversy

The transfer of dolphins from the Marineland park in Antibes, France, to Malaga, Spain, has begun, with eight of the twelve cetaceans departing on Wednesday evening. Images released by animal defense associations show one dolphin being moved in a stretcher by a crane before being placed in a large container.

The operation, described as the first act in the transfer of cetaceans from Marineland, involved specialized transport. According to sources, the process started in the late afternoon on Wednesday. Trucks carrying large water tanks used for the dolphins left the park around midnight, heading for the Nice airport tarmac. The dolphins were then loaded onto a cargo plane, which landed in Malaga at dawn. The flight duration was extended to accommodate the animals' needs.

Marineland's management declined to comment on the situation. However, the animal defense association One Voice has strongly condemned the transfer, labeling it a "state scandal" and a "shame orchestrated in the name of money." The group also expressed concerns about the high-risk nature of the journey for the animals.