Orcas Face Imminent Danger in Decaying French Marine Park
Two lonely orcas are swimming in desperate conditions at an abandoned marine park in southern France, with experts warning of urgent safety risks as their deteriorating enclosure could collapse at any moment. Wikie, aged 23, and her 11-year-old son Keijo are the last remaining inhabitants of Marineland Antibes, which closed permanently in January 2025.
Critical Conditions in Abandoned Facility
The mother and son orca duo are confined to a rotting tank that provides no stimulation or enrichment, essential for their cognitive development and social structure. While caretakers continue to feed the animals daily, meeting basic legal requirements, the whales face a grim future without immediate intervention.
Valentin Ducros, a whale specialist at Forward Global, emphasized the extreme urgency of the situation, telling The Mirror: "There is an urgent need to transfer the animals to a facility that is immediately operational. The pools could collapse at any moment, causing the death of the animals."
Failed Transfer Attempts and Sanctuary Proposals
The French government declared in December 2025 that Wikie and Keijo should be transferred to the Whale Sanctuary Project's proposed sanctuary in Nova Scotia, Canada, describing it as "the most credible, the most ethical and the only one that complies with the requirements of animal safety and welfare." However, this move still requires Marineland's approval.
Previous relocation attempts have failed, including:
- A court-blocked transfer to a marine park in Japan
- A vetoed proposal to move them to Loro Parque in Tenerife
- No suitable European sanctuary location identified despite ministerial interest
Expert Warnings and Family Tragedies
Marketa Schusterova, co-founder of Tidebreakers, expressed grave concerns about the Whale Sanctuary Project's readiness, warning that the orcas could perish "before WSP has even got a stick in the ground." She advocates for temporary holding facilities while a permanent sanctuary is developed.
The pair have already suffered significant losses. Wikie's son Moana died unexpectedly in 2023 aged 12, while her other son Inouk perished a year later after swallowing a metal fragment that fell into his tank. Schusterova noted: "We know from reviewing footage that the tank is causing a hazard. It's not being cleaned, it's falling apart."
Historical Context and Future Prospects
Marineland Antibes was once Europe's largest animal park, attracting huge crowds with whale shows. The closure followed years of campaigning by PETA and other animal protection groups. The orcas, France's last two in captivity, spent years entertaining visitors with trained performances.
Charles Vinick, CEO of the Whale Sanctuary Project, has experience with marine sanctuaries, having been involved with Keiko, the orca star of 'Free Willy.' The proposed Nova Scotia sanctuary would offer a 1,000-acre bay with 1,600 meters of escape-proof netting, providing significantly more space than their current tank.
With orcas capable of living 70-80 years in the wild, time is running out for Wikie and Keijo to experience proper care and environment. As Ducros emphasized, immediate operational solutions must be implemented without delay to prevent tragedy.
