Uncertain Future for Captive Orcas: Calls for Sanctuary Intensify

Fri Jul 18 2025 12:02:48 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
Uncertain Future for Captive Orcas: Calls for Sanctuary Intensify

With Marineland Antibes closed, the fate of two killer whales, Wikie and Keijo, remains unresolved as advocates push for sanctuary rather than relocation to marine zoos.


Despite the closure of their marine zoo home, orcas Wikie and Keijo face an uncertain future as discussions on a potential sanctuary in Europe raise concerns from various stakeholders, emphasizing their unique needs and welfare.


The future of two captive orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, remains in limbo following the closure of Marineland Antibes, a marine zoo in southern France. The facility shut down in January due to an impending law that bans the use of orcas in performances, leaving the whales still housed within its walls. While discussions are ongoing about relocating the orcas, animal rights advocates are pushing for their placement in a sanctuary rather than another marine zoo, which they believe would not meet the animals' welfare needs.

After the French government declined a proposal to transfer the orcas to a sanctuary in Canada, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the French ecology minister, stated her intention to explore the possibility of establishing a sanctuary in collaboration with Spain, Italy, and Greece. However, critics have raised concerns about the lack of detailed plans and funding for such a sanctuary.

Loro Parque in Spain has expressed interest in taking in Wikie and Keijo, arguing that they possess the facilities necessary for proper orca care. Nevertheless, Christoph Kiessling, Loro Parque's vice-president, mentioned that existing sanctuaries are ill-equipped to provide for the complex needs of these killer whales. He cautioned that a well-researched and planned sanctuary could take years to establish, leaving the orcas in a facility that is shutting down.

Amid fears that Wikie could be bred at Loro Parque—where other orcas have recently died—the marine zoo insists that relocating the animals is the best course of action. Advocacy groups, such as World Animal Protection, criticize Loro Parque for its entertainment-oriented business model and deny suitability as a refuge for the orcas.

The proposed sanctuary in Europe, discussed by Pannier-Runacher, has received mixed reactions, with some groups supporting the initiative as a better alternative than a marine zoo. However, directors from the Canadian sanctuary project criticized the idea of locating a sanctuary in the Mediterranean, asserting that it would be unsuitable for Wikie and Keijo, who originate from Icelandic waters and require specific ecological conditions.

Pannier-Runacher's proposal comes during France's "Year of the Sea," an awareness initiative about ocean conservation, where she expressed her commitment to ensuring the orcas are moved to an appropriate environment. She pointed out that no transfer would proceed if it compromised their welfare.

As discussions continue, advocates maintain pressure for a sanctuary that aligns with the orcas' needs, reflecting a passionate discourse around the ethics of animal captivity and conservation efforts in a changing landscape.

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