Marineland Antibes, a prominent marine park in France, permanently closed its doors in January 2025 following the French government's enactment of a law banning dolphin and whale performances. Despite the closure, the animals inside have not all been relocated. Two orcas and twelve dolphins remain confined in deteriorating, algae-infested pools, abandoned and left to survive on their own in a decaying environment.
Located near Cannes on the French Riviera, Marineland Antibes was forced to shut down due to legislation passed in 2021 that prohibits the use of cetaceans for entertainment purposes. While the park ceased operations in January, the two captive-born orcas-a mother, Wikie, aged 23, and her son, Keijo, aged 11-along with a dozen dolphins, continue to live in the facility's neglected tanks. The pools are overgrown with algae and the water is murky, creating hazardous conditions for the animals.
Animal welfare group TideBreakers recently released drone footage dated May 7, 2025, showing the orcas and dolphins swimming listlessly in these filthy enclosures. The organization described the situation as dire, emphasizing that the mother and son orcas remain trapped in crumbling tanks, waiting for their fate. The dolphins are similarly left to "rot" in the algae-choked water, raising serious concerns about their health and safety.
Marineland has assigned a small team to provide basic feeding, but no permanent solution has been found to rehome the animals. Proposals from Japan and Canada to relocate the orcas have been rejected by French authorities, who prefer the animals to remain somewhere in Europe. However, no suitable facility has yet been approved. The two orcas are the last captive orcas in France and have lost the ability to survive in the wild, making release impossible.
International animal protection organizations are urging the French government to act swiftly to improve the animals' conditions and secure their future. The Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia remains a potential sanctuary option, but the French Ministry for Ecology has so far declined previous relocation requests. The fate of Wikie, Keijo, and the dolphins remains uncertain as the government continues to deliberate.
This troubling situation highlights the challenges faced when marine parks close under new animal welfare laws, underscoring the urgent need for humane and sustainable solutions for captive marine mammals.
