Closure of the French sea park: future of orcas in danger

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The closure of a sea zoo in southern France has triggered an intensive debate about the future of its animal residents, including two popular orcas. Marineland Antibes, near Cannes, closed his gates forever on Sunday. The management cited a legal regulation that was passed by the French parliament in 2021 and forbid appearances with whales and dolphins.

new law and effects

The law, which comes into force in December 2026, also prohibits direct contact between visitors and Cetacen animals. In a declaration of December 4, Marineland announced that his doors had to close due to the fact that 90 % of the visitors come to the park to see the shows with orcas and dolphins.

The sad decision

The decision to close was made with "deep regret", and management works closely with the French authorities to find a new home for the animals. However, it is currently unclear what is done with the two orcas-the 23-year-old female Wikie and her 10-year-old son Keijo-and 12 dolphins.

controversity about moving plans

originally planned to send Marineland, Wikie and Keijo to an amusement park in Japan. This project met with massive criticism of animal welfare groups that argued that this move would harm their health, since Japan continues to practice whaling and have no corresponding animal welfare laws such as European countries.

government steps and recommendations

The French government intervened and published a report in which it explained that the only acceptable options consist of bringing the orcas into a new sanctuary in Nova Scotia, Canada, or accommodating them in the Loro Parque in Tenerife, which belongs to the Spanish Canary Islands. Loro Parque has been home to Orcas since 2006 and would offer similar conditions to Marineland, as stated in the government report.

animal protection claims and suitable solutions

But animal welfare activists demand that the whales are relocated to the Canadian sanctuary, where they no longer have to appear in shows. Muriel Arnal, President of the French animal welfare organization One Voice, emphasized in a conversation with CNN that the sanctuary was the best option for the mother-son couple. "Japan is not a good solution at all," she added and explained that Loro Parque would also have problems.

risks and future prospects

"You would continue to live in captivity, in smaller pools" in the Spanish park, said Arnal and mentioned the possibility that Wikie and Keijo could be separated so that Wikie could reproduce what the family gang would break, the orcas help to deal with the stress of captivity. Nevertheless, there is a plan to move orcas to a sea protection area before they are released in a 44 hectare area of ​​the ocean, according to Arnal.

public mobilization and pressure

The Orcas will remain in Marineland for the time being, while deciding about their fate, and the public pressure increases. "It is incredible how many people mobilize for it," said Arnal. CNN asked Marineland Antibes for a comment.