Time is running out for two captive killer whales abandoned in a decaying marine park, facing a dire future without immediate help. Wikie, aged 23, and her 11-year-old son Keijo are confined in the same deteriorating enclosure, swimming aimlessly as uncertainty looms over their fate.
Born in captivity, these orcas have never known life in the wild. Left behind in their deteriorating tanks when Marineland Antibes in southern France closed its doors for good in January 2025, Wikie and Keijo now lack mental stimulation, trapped in their enclosure as green algae slowly takes over the deserted park.
The park’s closure followed years of advocacy by PETA and other animal protection groups, involving protests, petitions, letters, exposés, and collaborations with celebrities like Pamela Anderson.
Aerial footage by activist group Tidebreakers reveals the harsh conditions the animals endure. Green sludge surrounds their pool, while an adjacent tank holds cloudy brown water. Twelve stranded bottlenose dolphins are the park’s only other residents, facing an uncertain future.
A minimal staff team meets the legal care requirements by feeding the animals but provides little mental enrichment crucial for orca pod social structure. Wikie and Keijo are the last two captive orcas in France, known for entertaining crowds with trainer-led performances.
While still under Marineland’s guardianship until relocation, the facility has stated that the orcas must be moved urgently for their well-being. The French government announced in December 2025 that Wikie and Keijo are to be transferred to the Whale Sanctuary Project’s sanctuary in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Although the relocation depends on Marineland’s approval, this decision signifies a significant step toward providing these social, complex animals with a spacious, natural habitat they have been denied. The French government endorsed the sanctuary as the most ethical and compliant with animal welfare standards, confirming the orcas’ upcoming move, potentially by summer 2026.
Marketa Schusterova, Tidebreakers co-founder, expressed concerns about the orcas’ declining situation, emphasizing the urgent need for action to prevent health issues and potential euthanasia. The campaign for a suitable sanctuary location continues as advocates push for a Nova Scotia facility offering ample space and freedom for Wikie and Keijo.
Proposed transfers to other marine parks have been rejected due to inadequate facilities, with ongoing efforts to secure a suitable European sanctuary. Campaigners emphasize the necessity of suitable temporary holding facilities while a permanent sanctuary is developed, emphasizing the critical need to address the orcas’ declining health and well-being.
Reflecting on Keiko’s story, who was returned to the wild after years in captivity but tragically perished shortly after, advocates stress the importance of timely action to save Wikie and Keijo from a similar fate.