ANTIBES, FRANCE – The fate of two captive killer whales, Wikie and her son Keijo, hangs in the balance following the permanent closure of Marineland Antibes, Europe’s largest marine zoo, on January 5.
The shutdown, spurred by France’s new animal welfare legislation, has ignited fierce debate among campaigners, experts, and the zoo’s management over the orcas’ next destination.
Marineland, located in the French Riviera near Cannes, announced its closure last month, citing the financial impracticality of operating under the incoming 2024 laws.
These regulations ban the use of dolphins and whales in performances, which traditionally accounted for 90% of the park’s visitor revenue.
Wikie, a 23-year-old female orca, and Keijo, her 11-year-old son, are Icelandic orcas born in captivity. The pressing question now is where these animals, raised entirely in human care, should be relocated to live out their remaining years.
Proposals Under Scrutiny
Marineland initially proposed relocating the orcas to a marine zoo in Japan. This plan, however, faced public outcry and government intervention.
Animal welfare advocates criticized Japan’s relaxed welfare laws, fearing inadequate care for the orcas, and pointed out the stress of a 13,000-kilometer (8,000-mile) journey.
Last November, the French government blocked the proposal, citing concerns over the orcas’ wellbeing.
Another option under consideration is Loro Parque, a marine zoo in Tenerife, Spain, which complies with European animal welfare standards.
While Loro Parque offers a familiar environment for Wikie and Keijo, its history has sparked skepticism. Critics point to the deaths of four orcas at the facility since 2021, including the recent passing of a 29-year-old male, Keto.
Katheryn Wise of World Animal Protection (WAP) strongly opposes transferring the orcas to another entertainment venue. “It would be devastating for Wikie and Keijo to end up in another whale jail like Loro Parque,” she told the BBC.
WAP and other organizations advocate for an alternative solution: a sanctuary that mimics the orcas’ natural habitat while providing human care.
Sanctuary in Canada: A New Hope?
One proposal gaining traction is the Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP), which aims to establish a 40-hectare (98-acre) ocean bay sanctuary off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.
The plan involves enclosing a section of seawater with nets, allowing the orcas to swim freely while receiving veterinary and welfare support.
The WSP argues that the sanctuary would offer Wikie and Keijo a more natural and fulfilling life. “Life at the sanctuary will be as close as possible to what they would have experienced growing up in the ocean,” the organization states.
The Canadian facility would require significant funding, which advocates believe could be secured with a commitment from the French government. However, critics question whether Wikie and Keijo, having spent their entire lives in captivity, could adapt to such an environment.
Captivity’s Complex Legacy
Marine biologist Hanne Strager, author of The Killer Whale Journals, warns of the psychological challenges the orcas might face in a sanctuary.
“We assume animals enjoy freedom the same way we do, but they might feel scared because it’s so different from what they’re used to,” she explains.
Strager likens releasing captive orcas into the wild to abandoning a domesticated dog in the forest, emphasizing their dependency on humans for food, care, and social interaction.
Wikie and Keijo’s story echoes the case of Keiko, the orca who starred in the 1993 film Free Willy. After being rescued from captivity in 1996, Keiko was placed in an Icelandic bay to relearn survival skills.
Despite some success, Keiko struggled to reintegrate into the wild and died in 2003 after contracting an infection.
A Broader Movement
Marineland’s closure marks a significant milestone in the global campaign against marine animal captivity.
Established in 1970 by World War II veteran Count Roland de la Poype, the park was once a symbol of fascination with sea life. Today, it represents a shift in societal attitudes toward animal welfare.
The movement gained momentum with the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which detailed the psychological toll of captivity on orcas, including Tilikum, an orca involved in three human deaths at SeaWorld Orlando.
The documentary led to plummeting attendance at SeaWorld and the suspension of its orca breeding program in 2016.
Despite these advances, the marine entertainment industry persists. SeaWorld recently opened a $1.2 billion marine zoo in Abu Dhabi, its first outside the United States.
While the facility does not include orcas, it continues to feature dolphin shows, drawing criticism from animal rights groups.
The Road Ahead
More than 4,000 animals are set to be relocated from Marineland, but none face as complex a future as Wikie and Keijo. As the debate over their fate intensifies, campaigners and experts urge the French government to prioritize the orcas’ welfare.
“The closure of Marineland is a pivotal moment,” says Wise. “It’s an opportunity for France to lead by example and demonstrate that the era of marine animal captivity is truly coming to an end.”
The coming months will determine whether Wikie and Keijo find a sanctuary where they can thrive or remain symbols of a controversial legacy. For now, their fate remains as uncertain as the waters they once swam in the wild.
