At Marineland Antibes in southeastern France, a mother and son pair of orcas, Wikie and Keijo, remain in deteriorating pools after the park closed in January 2025. The facility, once attracting half a million visitors annually, now shows signs of neglect, with algae-covered water and empty walkways. The orcas, born in captivity and trained for performances, have been observed floating listlessly at the surface, according to a court-ordered report.
A French law passed in 2021 banning the captivity of cetaceans has intensified the debate over the animals' future. A crucial meeting on Monday will bring together the French government, animal welfare groups, and Marineland's owner to decide their fate. While all parties agree on the need to rehome the orcas, no consensus has been reached on where they should go.
The French government has proposed moving the orcas to the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia, Canada, a 40-hectare outdoor site designed to mimic natural habitat. However, the sanctuary is not yet built and lacks $15m (£11m) in funding. Lori Marino, the project's founder, argues it offers the orcas depth to dive and a stimulating environment, but opponents, including Marineland's owner, call it a hypothetical solution.
Marineland's owner prefers an immediate transfer to another aquarium, such as Loro Parque in Tenerife or SeaWorld in Orlando. A previous plan to move the orcas to Tenerife was blocked by the Spanish government. Even the anti-captivity group C'est Assez!, which once legally opposed transfers to aquariums, now supports a move to SeaWorld as a lesser evil given the urgency.
The orcas cost approximately €500,000 (£435,000) each annually to maintain, and the park's pools are in poor condition, threatening their wellbeing. Twelve bottlenose dolphins remain at Marineland and will be moved to Beauval zoo in northern France once a new facility is ready.
