Two months after the closure of Marineland Antibes in southern France, the fate of its last two remaining killer whales, Wikie and Keijo, remains in limbo. Despite growing public pressure and political intervention, no concrete solution has been found for their relocation.
Wikie, a 23-year-old female orca, and her 11-year-old son Keijo have been at the center of a heated debate involving animal rights groups, marine park operators, and government officials. The closure of Marineland, prompted by a new French law banning the use of orcas in performances, has left the whales without a permanent home. Attempts to transfer them to another marine zoo have been met with strong opposition, while plans for a sanctuary remain unclear and unconfirmed.
For months, Marineland officials have sought to send the orcas to another marine zoo, arguing that such facilities are best suited to meet their needs. The most likely destination appeared to be Loro Parque, a marine zoo in Tenerife, Spain, known for its existing orca population. However, animal rights campaigners have fiercely resisted this plan, advocating instead for the whales to be placed in a sanctuary where they would not be used for breeding or performances.
The situation took a surprising turn when the French government recently rejected a proposal to send Wikie and Keijo to a sanctuary in Canada. The site, located in Nova Scotia, was deemed too far and too cold for the orcas, who have spent their entire lives in the warmer waters of southern France. This decision has been met with criticism from conservation groups who argue that the Canadian sanctuary was the best available option.
In response, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, France’s ecology minister, announced plans to explore the possibility of establishing a new orca sanctuary within Europe. She suggested working with Spain, Italy, and Greece to create a suitable habitat but has provided few details on its feasibility, location, or funding.
The proposal for a European sanctuary has been met with skepticism. While some conservation groups see it as a step in the right direction, others argue that the plan is vague and unrealistic. The French ecology ministry has provided no specifics on how such a sanctuary would be built, who would finance it, or when it could become operational.
Loro Parque, the Spanish marine zoo hoping to receive the orcas, has openly criticized the sanctuary idea. Christoph Kiessling, vice president of Loro Parque, told the BBC that current sanctuary designs are “wholly unsuitable” for orcas, especially those born in captivity. He noted that existing sanctuaries have not yet demonstrated their ability to meet the complex physiological, social, and environmental needs of orcas.
“Such a process could take years, leaving the two Marineland [orcas] in a facility that is being wound down,” Kiessling said, warning that delaying their transfer could jeopardize their welfare.
Adding to concerns, campaigners have pointed out that Loro Parque has a controversial history with orca care. Several orcas have died at the facility in recent years, including three between March 2021 and September 2022. While Loro Parque insists these deaths were unavoidable and verified by scientific examination, opponents argue that the facility’s track record raises serious ethical and welfare concerns.
Animal welfare organizations are particularly alarmed about the possibility of Wikie being used for breeding if transferred to Loro Parque. The marine zoo announced in January that Morgan, one of its three female orcas, is pregnant—raising fears that Wikie could also be used to expand the facility’s orca population.
Katheryn Wise from World Animal Protection stated that Loro Parque remains, at its core, an entertainment business that profits from orca performances.
“Morgan’s pregnancy underlines the fact that Loro Parque could never be a suitable option for Wikie and Keijo and should be removed as an option,” Wise said.
Despite the controversy, Marineland officials continue to push for an expedited transfer to Loro Parque, arguing that it is in the best interest of the orcas’ immediate welfare. With Marineland now closed, they are still covering the costs of caring for the whales while awaiting government approval for relocation.
The rejected Canadian sanctuary, which had submitted a formal application to house Wikie and Keijo, has since spoken out against the idea of a Mediterranean sanctuary. Its directors argue that an orca sanctuary in the Mediterranean would be an ill-advised solution, given that Wikie and Keijo are of Icelandic origin.
Dr. David Perpiñán, a diplomate at the European College of Zoological Medicine, was cited in a letter to the French government stating, “Wikie and Keijo’s origin is Iceland. These two orcas do not belong to the ecotypes seen in the Mediterranean.”
He added that placing them in a warm-water sanctuary in southern Europe would be “probably the worst of the possible options.”
Furthermore, the Canadian sanctuary argued that its plans were much further along than the proposed European sanctuary, with designs finalized and ready for construction. By contrast, the European plan remains conceptual, with no clear pathway to becoming a reality.
Despite the lack of clarity, some animal rights groups have cautiously welcomed Pannier-Runacher’s proposal, seeing it as an opportunity to push for the long-awaited establishment of an orca sanctuary in Europe.
Sea Shepherd, an international marine conservation group, responded to the minister’s announcement by calling it a chance to achieve what the zoo industry has long deemed “impossible”—creating an ocean sanctuary where captive orcas can live out the rest of their lives in a more natural environment.
The French government has shown an increasing willingness to take a firm stance on marine animal welfare. Last November, Pannier-Runacher blocked an application by Marineland to send the orcas to Japan, citing lower animal welfare standards there. Now, as France celebrates its “Year of the Sea,” an initiative aimed at raising awareness about ocean conservation, the minister sees the European sanctuary as a potential legacy project.
“I’m not telling you that it will work,” Pannier-Runacher said in her Instagram video announcing the plan. “But nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
With Marineland shut down and no final decision made, Wikie and Keijo remain in a precarious position. Their prolonged stay at the closed facility raises concerns about their long-term well-being, particularly as staff and resources at Marineland gradually dwindle.
The debate over their future reflects broader ethical questions about the captivity of orcas and the responsibilities of governments and marine parks in ensuring their welfare. The choice between another marine zoo and an untested sanctuary model will likely shape the future of orca conservation in Europe.
As the world watches, the fate of Wikie and Keijo remains uncertain, caught between competing interests, scientific disagreements, and the slow-moving machinery of government decision-making. Whether they end up in a European sanctuary, a marine zoo, or an alternative solution remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the fight for their future is far from over.
