Wikie and Keijo, a mother and son orca pair, remain in deteriorating pools at Marineland Antibes after the park closed in January 2025. Born in captivity, they performed for decades before France passed a 2021 law banning cetacean shows. Now, as algae spreads in ageing tanks, the French government, animal welfare groups and the park’s owners all agree the whales must leave. They cannot agree where.
In December, ecology minister Mathieu Lefèvre endorsed relocation to the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia. The 40-hectare seaside sanctuary aims to offer a more natural environment. Founder Lori Marino says the site would provide depth, stimulation and veterinary oversight. However, critics argue the sanctuary is unfinished and lacks full funding.
Marineland opposes the move and wants an immediate transfer to an operational aquarium. A previous proposal to send the whales to Loro Parque in Tenerife collapsed after Spain rejected it. Reports of a potential deal with SeaWorld have circulated, though Marineland denies any agreement.
Animal groups remain divided. Sea Shepherd France questions water safety and temperature in Nova Scotia. Others argue delay increases risk to the whales’ welfare as maintenance costs rise and facilities degrade.
A government meeting aims to settle the dispute, but for now Wikie and Keijo continue to drift in their empty arena, symbols of a broader debate over the future of captive marine mammals.
