Trapped in Silence: The Urgent Plight of Wikie and Keijo in Marineland Antibes
Behind the locked gates of Marineland Antibes, a heartbreaking reality persists: two orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, remain confined within the decaying remnants of a once-popular marine park.
Though the public has moved on, these intelligent and social creatures continue to languish in algae-choked tanks, their future overshadowed by uncertainty and neglect.
Animal advocates are sounding the alarm, imploring the French government to intervene before it’s too late. Wikie, 23, and Keijo, 11, are among the last captive orcas in France, and their survival hangs in the balance.
A Park in Ruins
Located near the glittering Côte d’Azur, Marineland Antibes once drew crowds eager to witness orcas perform choreographed routines.
But the tide of public opinion turned, and the park was forced to cease its shows following a nationwide ban on cetacean performances. Marineland officially closed to visitors in January 2025, leaving the park eerily deserted — except for the orcas and 12 dolphins still housed in crumbling tanks.
Recent drone footage captured by the animal welfare group TideBreakers paints a grim picture. The orcas swim in murky, algae-covered water, their tanks cracked and discolored, overshadowed by the desolate structures of the abandoned park.
“New footage from May 7, 2025, shows the tragic reality of France’s last two captive orcas,” TideBreakers shared in a statement accompanying the video. “Wikie and Keijo remain confined in dilapidated tanks, with no visitors in sight — only silence and decay.”
While staff continue to feed the animals, activists argue that no amount of food can compensate for the inadequate environment and lack of stimulation these orcas face.
Desperate Calls for Rescue
Despite the closure, Marineland’s management remains legally responsible for the animals’ welfare. The park itself has now joined the calls for an urgent relocation, recognizing that the facility can no longer meet the orcas’ basic needs.
“Marineland is urging the immediate transfer of Wikie and Keijo to an appropriate sanctuary where they can receive proper care,” the management said in a recent statement.
Yet, efforts to secure a new home have repeatedly run into obstacles. Earlier this year, the French Ministry for Ecology blocked a proposed transfer to Japan, citing ethical and logistical concerns. Another plan to move the orcas to Loro Parque in Tenerife — a facility already housing four orcas — was halted after an independent Spanish scientific committee determined that the facility lacked the necessary conditions to properly accommodate the orcas, including inadequate tank size and depth.
Dr. Jan Schmidt-Burbach from World Animal Protection expressed cautious support for that decision. “While it was unexpected, it was also the right call,” he noted. “Marine parks are becoming increasingly outdated, and society is demanding better standards of care for these animals.”
A Flicker of Hope in Canada
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Now, animal welfare organizations are urging the French authorities to approve a transfer to a promising alternative: a sanctuary in Port Hilford Bay, Nova Scotia. Developed by the Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP), this site could finally offer Wikie and Keijo a chance to experience a more natural, enriched environment.
Lori Marino, president of WSP, emphasized the sanctuary’s readiness. “We’ve conducted all necessary environmental studies, completed water quality assessments, and secured a long-term lease from Canada’s Department of Natural Resources,” she explained.
Marino stressed that while Wikie and Keijo, both born in captivity, can never be released into the wild, the sanctuary would still offer them a dramatically improved quality of life. “They’ll have space to swim, a more natural habitat, and an environment that respects their intelligence and social needs,” she said.
WSP’s leadership team, which includes Charles Vinick and Jeff Foster — key figures in the release of Keiko, the orca star of Free Willy — brings decades of experience to the project. Although Keiko eventually died in 2003 after a brief period in the wild, his story inspired a movement for more humane treatment of captive cetaceans.
Mounting Pressure on French Officials
Despite widespread support for the sanctuary, the French government has yet to give final approval for the transfer. Ecology Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher had initially announced plans to identify a European sanctuary for the orcas, but no suitable location has been confirmed. The temporary relocation plan to Loro Parque, which was once considered a stopgap solution, has now been officially scrapped.
“I was stunned when I heard that plan fell through,” Lori Marino told BBC News. “We genuinely believed it was a done deal — a way to get the orcas out of that crumbling park. Now, time is running out.”
As of now, the ministry has remained silent on WSP’s renewed proposal, leaving the fate of Wikie and Keijo in limbo.
A Race Against Time
The situation in Marineland Antibes grows more dire by the day. The tanks continue to deteriorate, and the stress of confinement takes an unseen toll on the orcas’ health. With every passing week, their chances of finding a better life shrink.
The responsibility now lies with the French government to step in and grant approval for their transfer to the Nova Scotia sanctuary. Animal welfare groups insist that this is not just an option but a moral imperative — a final chance to give these intelligent, social creatures a measure of dignity and peace.
As activists and experts continue to sound the alarm, the world watches, hoping that Wikie and Keijo’s story does not end in tragedy but in a long-overdue rescue.