Aquarium Mar del Plata closed its doors on March 31, 2025, and following the bankruptcy of Plunimar declared on Feb. 20, the future of its 66 animals is now subject to a court process. The animals remain at the Punta Mogotes facility while the National Commercial Court No. 20 determines next steps.
The closure affects a group that includes 56 Magellanic penguins, two king penguins, four rockhopper penguins, and four sea lions. A team of twelve caretakers is responsible for their feeding, health care, and safety during this period. Any transfer or relocation of these animals will require explicit authorization from the court handling the case.
Plunimar’s financial situation worsened after operations ceased in March 2025 due to lost ticket sales revenue. The lease agreement that had been in place since 1993 was not renewed in 2025. By January of the following year, Plunimar stopped meeting its obligations before being declared bankrupt by the court on Feb. 20.
The Dolphin Company at Aquarium Mar del Plata said it plans to relocate “all animals born under human care,” but emphasized that any moves would need judicial approval and strict sanitary controls. Previously, ten dolphins were transferred to Hurghada in Egypt at a cost of about USD $800,000 late last year.
Before declaring bankruptcy, Plunimar tried selling some animals to institutions in Mexico, China and São Paulo but faced regulatory obstacles related to health and environmental standards. Now these animals are considered part of Plunimar’s assets under legal protection; any transfer requires both judicial consent and permits from environmental authorities.
Local residents have raised concerns online about conditions in some enclosures; both company representatives and municipal officials responded that water used comes from the ocean and minimum welfare protocols are followed. However, organizations continue to call for more thorough inspections as scientific and environmental communities await further decisions from authorities regarding the park’s future.
