The remaining pair of killer whales in captivity in France may face a grim fate as activists raise concerns about the lack of action from the government towards the abandoned marine park where they reside.
Wikie and her offspring Keijo are the sole killer whales left in France, residing in a now-shuttered Marineland Antibes since the beginning of this year. Left to swim in a deteriorating tank, the orcas spend their days in solitude, yearning for the lost connections with their deceased family members, as they are the only survivors from their original group of four.
With the park closed to the public, the orcas’ environment is deteriorating rapidly, with their concrete tank water becoming increasingly polluted and foul-smelling green algae spreading. Despite minimal human interaction from a reduced staff, Wikie and Keijo have been forgotten by the audience they once entertained.
In a smaller tank nearby, twelve bottlenose dolphins are the only other inhabitants of the decaying park, facing a similar uncertain future. Pressure from the Cetacean advocacy group TideBreakers urges the French government to take immediate action and rescue the animals before it’s too late.
The closure of the park followed years of advocacy efforts, including campaigns by PETA and other animal protection organizations, and collaborations with celebrities like Pamela Anderson. However, a standoff between French officials and the park’s management, who still bear responsibility for the animals’ welfare, prolongs the situation.
New regulations from 2021 prohibited entertainment shows involving whales, dolphins, and porpoises, giving Marineland until December 2026 to relocate the animals to a safer place. Despite rejecting proposals to relocate the orcas to Japan or a future whale sanctuary in Canada, discussions continue with potential European sanctuaries to find a suitable solution.
TideBreakers warn that time is running out for Wikie and Keijo, emphasizing that their current living conditions are unsafe and unsanitary. A recent decision by the French government points towards transferring the orcas to the proposed sanctuary in Nova Scotia, Canada, signaling a positive step towards providing these social animals with a more natural and spacious habitat.