France denies Marineland orcas their last chance at sanctuary

The fate of two captive orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, has taken a disappointing turn. The French Ministry of Ecological Transition has rejected a proposal that would have allowed them to be relocated to the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia - a move that could have finally given them a chance to live in an environment closer to their natural habitat.

A future in captivity instead of freedom

Following the closure of Marineland Antibes in January due to France’s new legislation phasing out wild animal performances, the future of its resident animals, including the two orcas and twelve bottlenose dolphins, was left uncertain. The Whale Sanctuary Project offered a solution, proposing to care for Wikie and Keijo in France until their seaside sanctuary was ready to welcome them in summer 2025. The plan would have given them the opportunity to live out their days in a spacious, protected bay with the best possible care.

Instead, the ministry’s decision means that Wikie and Keijo will likely be sent to Loro Parque, a marine entertainment park in Tenerife known for breeding orcas in captivity. This is the same facility where four orcas have died since 2021.

The Whale Sanctuary Project is a missed opportunity

The Whale Sanctuary Project is one of several seaside sanctuaries being developed worldwide to offer an ethical alternative to captivity. It aims to provide former captive orcas and belugas with a semi-natural environment where they can swim in open waters, free from the demands of entertainment shows. The project would have given Wikie and Keijo a second chance at life outside the confines of a tank.

Charles Vinick of The Whale Sanctuary Project expressed his disappointment, stating, “We consider it to be a tragic mistake for the Ministry to dismiss the opportunity the sanctuary holds for Wikie and Keijo to lead healthier lives. But it is not too late for the French government to convene all of us – the government, Marineland Antibes, and the Whale Sanctuary Project – to collaboratively develop and implement the plan to do what is best for Wikie and Keijo.”

A lifetime of performances ahead

The alternative, Loro Parque, paints a horrific picture. This facility has a troubling history of orca deaths and is actively involved in captive breeding. The orcas there are forced to perform unnatural tricks, including beaching themselves on platforms and waving their fins at audiences.

Among its current residents is Morgan, an orca who was found malnourished in the wild in 2010. Instead of being rehabilitated and released, which was the reason she was originally captured, she was sent to Loro Parque, where she remains to this day. She gave birth to a calf, Ula, who tragically died before her third birthday. Morgan’s story is an example of how captivity continues to exploit these intelligent, social animals for profit.

A call for change

Katheryn Wise, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection, condemned the French government’s decision: “This is an incredibly disappointing decision by the Ministry in France, robbing these orcas of the opportunity to experience life in a seaside sanctuary and as close to their natural habitat as possible. These animals have faced a lifetime in a tiny barren tank performing for tourists and it seems like they will be condemned to more of this at another venue such as Loro Parque, where four orcas have died since 2021.”

Wise urged the ministry to reconsider, stating that sending the orcas to another marine park directly contradicts the intent of the legislation to end cetacean captivity in France.

The end of captivity must be now

The world is turning away from the cruelty of keeping whales and dolphins in captivity. Many travel companies have already withdrawn support for marine parks that exploit these animals, yet some, like TUI, continue to profit from ticket sales to such venues.