The big Parc Asterix theme park in France has closed down its dolphinarium, a day ahead of the French Parliament debating a bill proposing to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and in marine parks.
The park, located just outside of Paris and which is themed on comic character Asterix the Gaul, told the media that the decision was "based upon a desire to focus on our historic amusement park activity."
The park was opened in 1989 and has eight dolphins and five sea lions. They have all be rehoused at other venues in Europe. There are two other venues in France with marine mammals, the Planète Sauvage and Marineland.
