Trapped Between Legislation & Enforcement: The Struggle of Wikie & Keijo, France’s Last Orcas

Once the star attractions of Marineland Antibes on the French Riviera, orcas Wikie, 23, and her son Keijo, 11, now swim endlessly in cracked, algae-filled tanks at the shuttered park. As France’s final captive killer whales, their future remains uncertain. The facility closed permanently on January 5th 2025, caused mostly by a groundbreaking 2021 law banning cetacean captivity and performances. Although a win for animal welfare advocates, with many of the park’s 4,000 animals being relocated, the orcas, alongside 12 bottlenose dolphins, have remained stranded.

Wikie, Keijo and 12 bottlenose dolphins have been left to survive in rapidly worsening conditions.

France’s 2021 legislation gave parks until December 2026 to relocate cetaceans to facilities meeting strict welfare standards. Months have gone by since Marineland’s closure, and yet Wikie, Keijo, and 12 dolphins still linger in limbo. With only minimal staff overseeing their care, activists warn of worsening conditions. Newly released drone footage by conservation group TideBreakers reveals murky water, barren enclosures, and visible algae blooms. Experts fear the orcas could succumb to illness or environmental decay, with TideBreakers cautioning they may face euthanasia if no solution arises.

Wild orcas traverse up to 40 miles daily, hunting and socialising in dynamic ocean ecosystems. Dr. Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist, emphasises that captivity defies evolution, and that “not one marine mammal is adapted to thrive…in a concrete box.” Orcas, with their immense intelligence, complex cultures, and social structures akin to humans, suffer profoundly in isolation. Deprived of stimulation, Wikie and Keijo exhibit signs of psychological distress, gnawing tank walls, repetitive swimming, and collapsed dorsal fins, behaviours linked to chronic stress.

Tragedy has already struck the family. Moana, Wikie’s first calf and Keijo’s brother, died at 12 in 2023 from a bacterial infection likely tied to contaminated food. Just months later, Wikie’s brother Inuk, 25, died after ingesting metal debris from his enclosure. Both displayed symptoms of captivity-induced neglect: tooth loss, injuries, and emaciation. These deaths occurred even when Marineland operated at full capacity.

Aerial footage of the theme park shows the worsening conditions of the orca and dolphins habitat - Anadolu via Getty Images

Efforts to relocate the orcas have stalled. Spain’s Loro Parque, initially proposed, was rejected by French and Spanish authorities due to overcrowding. Japan’s offer was blocked by the French government over lax animal welfare standards. Talks with Italy, Greece, and Spain continue, with Italy’s Taranto sea sanctuary touted as a potential option—though still under construction. A Canadian sanctuary remains hypothetical.

Around the world, momentum is growing to end cetacean captivity. Canada’s Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act (2019) prohibits keeping orcas and belugas in captivity except for rescue and rehabilitation, setting a precedent for humane alternatives like seaside sanctuaries. In Europe, the United Kingdom phased out orca captivity entirely by the 1990s and restricts dolphin displays in amusement parks, while France, Croatia, and Barcelona enforce strict bans or limits on marine mammal captivity.

South Korea joined this movement in late 2023 by banning captures of whales for captivity, though enforcement remains critical. Despite these strides, loopholes persist: countries like Japan, Russia, and China continue large-scale captures for export, exploiting weaker regulations. France’s 2021 law aligns with this global shift, yet Wikie and Keijo’s plight highlights the gap between legislation and enforcement

Though some countries have taken a tough stance, China continues large-scale captures for export with 22 held in captivity

As the UN Ocean Conference convenes in Nice next week (just 22 km away), the contradiction is stark: world leaders pledge ocean protection while two sentient beings suffer nearby. This is not just a French dilemma but a global ethical failure.

Not all is lost. UN delegates and leaders have the chance to demand France uphold its animal welfare commitments and secure immediate relocation to a sanctuary meeting humane standards.

The public can also directly message French President Emmanuel Macron. We must urge media groups to spotlight this crisis. Wikie and Keijo cannot wait much longer. Their lives depend on urgent action.