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Pressure Mounts to Relocate Orcas and Dolphins from Closed French Marine Park

Two captive orcas, Wikie aged 23 and her 11-year-old son Keijo, remain trapped in the closed Marineland Antibes near Cannes since January 2025.
Marineland shut due to a 2021 French law banning cetacean shows, and despite seeking alternatives, French authorities have rejected relocation proposals including sites in Japan and Tenerife.
Activists and a minimal staff maintain the animals in algae-filled pools with little mental stimulation, warning the deteriorating conditions pose serious risks to the orcas' welfare.
French ecology minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher and campaigners stress urgency to find a European sanctuary, but none currently exists, while The Whale Sanctuary Project offers a Canadian site as the only prepared option.
The ongoing failure to rehouse Wikie and Keijo leaves them confined in failing enclosures, underscoring urgent needs for temporary care solutions until a permanent sanctuary is established.

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Science Alert

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Video of Orcas Stranded in Algae-Infested Pools Triggers Fresh Concerns

A video posted online of two orcas circling in an algae-infested pool in southern France has brought a fresh wave of worldwide concern for cetaceans Wikie, 24, and her 11-year-old calf Keijo.

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The Independent

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Video showing orcas circling in algae-infested pool sparks worldwide concern for their fate

France has been struggling to find a new home for Wikie, 24, and her 11-year-old calf, Keijo, after a marine park closed down.

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ladepeche.fr

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Novinky.cz

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Futurism

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