Misery of the abandoned orcas: Killer whales and dolphins are left trapped in shut-down marine park – as campaigners plead for them to be saved

By KUMAIL JAFFER

Published: 01:49 BST, 15 May 2025 | Updated: 01:51 BST, 15 May 2025

Two orcas and 12 dolphins have been stuck in bleak living conditions in an abandoned marine park since January.

The majestic creatures remain confined in Marineland Antibes, a French marine park near Cannes that shut its doors four months ago. 

Disturbing drone footage released by animal activist group TideBreakers shows the orcas Wikie, 23, and her 11-year-old son Keijo wandering aimlessly around the abandoned park.

The video also shows the algae-infested pool where the remaining dolphins are kept.

But despite their despairing condition, French authorities have yet to identify a suitable site in Europe for the orcas and have rejected a proposed move to a marine zoo in Japan.

Marketa Schusterova, co-founder of TideBreakers, said: ‘The situation in Marineland Antibes is an emergency and needs worldwide attention.

‘These are the last two remaining orcas in captivity in France and they should be moved quickly.

‘The orcas need to be removed from dangerous conditions that are posing significant risks to their health and safety.’

Two orcas and 12 dolphins have been stuck in bleak living conditions in an abandoned marine park since January

The majestic creatures remain confined in Marineland Antibes, a French marine park near Cannes that shut its doors four months ago

But despite their despairing condition, French authorities have yet to identify a suitable site in Europe for the orcas

The marine park closed on January 5, citing legislation banning shows featuring cetaceans such as dolphins and whales, which the French government passed in 2021.

Since then, the management for Marineland have been shuffling through various options for where to rehome the animals, especially the orcas.

Though Marineland has closed as a marine zoo business, they are still legally responsible for the welfare of the animals until they are rehomed. The orcas were both born in captivity so could never survive in the wild.

A skeleton staff come in to feed the animals to meet the management company’s legal requirements for care, but are not providing much in the way of mental enrichment, which is vital for bonded pod orcas. 

The French government have blocked two rehoming deals, one which would have seen the orcas go to a marine zoo in Japan and another for a whale sanctuary in Canada.

Lori Marino, president of The Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP), had said their site in Nova Scotia, Canada was ‘the only option left’.

Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the French ecology minister, said in February she was looking for a European sanctuary but a suitable site for Wikie and Keijo has not been secured yet.

‘If you don’t even have a site, you’re years away from being a viable sanctuary,’ Marino added.

The marine park closed on January 5, citing legislation banning shows featuring cetaceans such as dolphins and whales

Though Marineland has closed as a marine zoo business, they are still legally responsible for the welfare of the animals until they are rehomed

The government said the travel would be too strenuous for the animals but after a relocation deal with Loro Parque in Tenerife was rejected by Spanish authorities, the remaining options are limited.

Marketa said: ‘We are disappointed in the lack of planning and complete mismanagement of this situation by the park’s owner, Parque Reunidos, as well as authorities who went silent this past month.

‘They were both born in captivity so the option of rehabilitation and release to the wild is simply not possible.

‘After entertaining the public for years, we should still provide them with a clean and safe environment to live out their remaining years.’

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Misery of the abandoned orcas: Killer whales and dolphins are left trapped in shut-down marine park – as campaigners plead for them to be saved

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