Breaking News on French Orcas Wikie and Keijo
By Mark J. Palmer
There are a number of new twists and turns regarding the fate of the last two captive orcas in France, Wikie and her son Keijo.
Background
The French government passed a law prohibiting all display and holding of captive whales and dolphins in France, with a requirement that all cetaceans must be relocated out of France by no later than Dec. 1st, 2026.
The last two orcas have lived their whole lives in captivity at Marineland Antibes, which is located in the south of France on the Mediterranean. Marineland caused a public outcry when they announced that they would sell Wikie and Keijo to an aquarium in Japan with even smaller concrete tanks than their current facility.
This prompted the French Ministry to appoint an Inspector General to conduct a thorough analysis and make recommendations to the Ministry as to where the orcas should go. After deliberations and review of various proposals, the Inspector General’s report concluded that sending Wikie and Keijo to the Whale Sanctuary Project’s Nova Scotia sanctuary, now under construction and expected to be finished by the end of June 2025, was the best option.
This recommendation was forwarded to the Minister for a final decision. The inspector did not recommend moving the orcas to any aquarium options which he considered not in the spirit of the law’s intent to address the welfare of captive cetaceans.
IMMP Director David Phillips, also a member of the Whale Sanctuary Project Board of Directors, called it “a landmark decision that is by far the best possible outcome for these two orcas. The recommendation is also a great tribute to the hard work of the Whale Sanctuary Project.”
Japan Aquarium Ruled Out
All eyes turned to Minister of Ecological Transitions, Agnes Pannier-Runacher as to whether the recommendations of the Inspector General would be accepted.
The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) prepared and circulated a letter, signed by 28 environmental and animal welfare organizations, urging the Ministry to reject moving the two orcas to the Japan aquarium.
Meanwhile three environmental pioneers – Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Sylvia Earle, and Jean-Michel Cousteau – signed a letter to the Ministry praising the report by the Inspector General and strongly urging that the two orcas be relocated to the sea sanctuary in Nova Scotia.
On Monday, Nov. 25th, Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher made a surprise announcement on French national television, stating that she rejects the relocation of the two orcas to the Japan aquarium, citing arguments raised by NGOs, including IMMP, about the weakness of Japan’s animal welfare laws pertaining to cetaceans.
Dave Phillips stated: “The Japanese aquarium was the worst option for Wikie and Keijo, and it’s a very welcome step that it was rejected.” He continued: “But the Ministry has not rendered a decision about the Nova Scotia Sanctuary option, even though its own appointed Inspector deemed it as the best choice.”
Spanish Aquarium Under Consideration
In light of the Ministry’s rejection of the Japanese option, Marineland Antibes is now pressing to send the orcas to the Loro Parque Zoo, based in Tenerife, Spain. IMMP and many other conservation groups and scientists are of the view that the Loro Parque Zoo would be a horrendous choice. The facility has a poor track record on maintaining the health and welfare of orcas. Since 2021, four orcas have died at Loro Parque Zoo. The tanks are barren, crowded and small. The Zoo utilizes artificial insemination for forced breeding, a practice that is now prohibited by SeaWorld in the US and in Canada by law. Wikie and Keijo would be forced to be part of the Loro Parque Zoo's breeding program and have to perform daily for tourists.
Last month, Keto, a Loro Parque Zoo orca, died at the young age of 29. In the wild, male orcas can live 50 years or more. In 2009, Keto killed his trainer, Alexis Martinez. Keto was born in a tank in SeaWorld Orlando, and never even saw the ocean.
By contrast, the Whale Sanctuary Project would not have any breeding or performances at the sanctuary in Nova Scotia. The mother and son orcas would be able to stay together, and would receive excellent veterinary care, a dramatically larger area in a natural bay in seawater, feeling the wind and the waves, marine life, and living a richer and non-exploited life.
One Voice’s Lawsuit
Our colleagues at One Voice, an animal welfare organization based in France, filed a lawsuit against Marineland Antibes seeking to stop any move of the two orcas until independent veterinarians make a complete evaluation of the health of the orcas. It was granted temporarily.
Marineland has fought back against the export ban, and at the last moment before the hearing last week announced that they intend to close down all their facilities in early January and therefore must have the export ban lifted so that they could relocate the orcas to an aquarium.
On Dec. 5th, the Judge slapped them down again, ruling that the orcas must remain in place – closure or not – at Marineland until the full health evaluations by veterinarians not affiliated with Marineland are completed and analyzed.
In the most recent twist, the French government has just fallen – for a second time in just weeks. Prime Minister Barnier submitted his resignation after a no-confidence vote in Parliament. That resulted in the dismissal of all the French Ministers, including Minister Agnès Pannier-Runache, who was overseeing the matter of orcas Wikie and Keijo. President Macron has stated he will appoint a new Prime Minister in the next several days. A new cabinet will also be named.
What You Can Do
Please sign our petition to the French government, urging that Wikie and Keijo go to the Whale Sanctuary Project’s new coastal refuge in Nova Scotia.
Follow our blogs for further updates on Wikie and Keijo, and other captive orcas and cetaceans around the world.
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Today, Wikie and Keijo, and other captive whales and dolphins around the world, need your support! Please donate to the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) to help free mother and son orcas from dismal lives in concrete tanks. Hanging in the balance is the opportunity for them to be transferred to the Whale Sanctuary Project’s new seaside refuge in Nova Scotia, where the two orcas would no longer be forced to perform for the public. They would be fed and receive veterinary care and would be able to swim in the broad waters of the sanctuary, feeling the tides and the wind, part of nature again. Thanks so much for caring and donating!
