Time is running out for two captive killer whales stranded in a deteriorating marine park, with their future hanging in the balance. Wikie, aged 23, and her 11-year-old son Keijo are confined in a decaying enclosure, swimming aimlessly as they face an uncertain destiny.
These orcas, born in captivity, were left behind when Marineland Antibes in southern France closed its doors in January 2025. Now, lacking mental stimulation, they are left to find entertainment in their enclosure as green algae slowly takes over the deserted park.
After relentless campaigning by animal protection groups like PETA and high-profile figures such as Pamela Anderson, the park shut down following years of protests, petitions, and collaborations. Aerial footage by Tidebreakers captured the distressing conditions the animals endure, with green sludge accumulating around their pool and other tanks in disrepair.
Despite meeting basic care requirements by feeding the animals, the understaffed team at the facility provides little mental enrichment crucial for orcas’ social well-being. As the last two captive orcas in France, Wikie and Keijo are urged to be relocated for their welfare.
In December 2025, the French government proposed transferring Wikie and Keijo to the Whale Sanctuary Project’s sanctuary in Canada. This move, pending Marineland’s approval, aims to provide these animals with a natural and spacious habitat they have been deprived of since birth.
Marketa Schusterova from Tidebreakers highlighted the urgent need for action, citing the hazardous conditions in which the orcas are living. Concerns about their health and well-being persist, with the hope that a transfer to a sanctuary will offer them a chance at a better life.
Proposed relocations to other facilities were vetoed due to inadequate conditions, prompting a push for the orcas to be moved to the Whale Sanctuary Project’s site in Canada. While some advocate for temporary holding facilities tailored to the orcas’ needs, others stress the importance of a permanent sanctuary for their long-term care.
The story of Keiko, the orca from the film ‘Free Willy,’ serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of captivity. His journey, from capture to release, highlights the challenges faced by marine mammals in captivity and the importance of providing a suitable environment for their well-being.
The push for Wikie and Keijo’s relocation to a sanctuary underscores the growing awareness of animal welfare and the need to prioritize the well-being of captive marine mammals. The decision to move them to a more natural setting reflects a step towards ensuring a better future for these intelligent and social creatures.