Killer whales (orcas) and dolphins at Marineland in Antibes, on the French Riviera, have been saved at the 11th hour from being transferred to Spain.
Sea Shepherd France said in a press release that the news “is a huge relief” because the Spanish conditions would have been much worse for the animals – 2 orcas and 12 dolphins – than what they have at the marine zoo in Antibes. Marineland has been closed to the public since January. This follows a decline in attendance figures, and a ban on orca and dolphin performances from December 2026.
Even a temporary move to Spain would have been detrimental, according to Sea Shepherd. In an open letter to France’s Ecology Minister, the organisation pointed out that “as soon as the animals are moved to Spain, France will no longer have any control over their destiny”. The letter was signed by over 90,000 supporters.
Sea Shepherd even offered to pay 5-million euros to keep the killer whales – Wikie (24) and her son Keijo (11) – in Antibes until alternative and better sanctuaries are available.
Marineland’s director Pascal Picot had stated the transfer to Spain was “an emergency for their well-being” but Sea Shepherd claims Marineland was just being “irresponsible” and rushing things when there’s still a year and a half until the ban on cetacean captivity kicks in. They accused Marineland of trying to expedite the removal of all animals by mid-April when their carers’ contracts were due to expire.
Sanctuaries for captive-born Killer Whales (Orcas)
Activists would like the captive-born animals to be able to live more freely with the creation of a sanctuary. Spain’s last-minute refusal is seen as a sign of hope for this solution.
Sea Shepherd said in a press release:
“Many (of Marineland’s) animals, especially sea lions, have been sent to facilities where their living conditions will be worse, and heartbreaking separations of very close individuals who have always known each other have caused irreparable trauma. A similar fate loomed over orcas and dolphins, and this last-minute turnaround restores the hope we have never lost: the possibility of sanctuaries.”
Sea Shepherd France says it remains engaged in helping ensure a “life worth living for the park’s 14 captive cetaceans”, and says Marineland’s management and the French Ministry need to assume their responsibilities.
“This requires the necessary renovation of the orca pool and, of course, the retention of the staff dedicated to their care,” said Sea Shepherd. “The sanctuaries in Greece and Italy are on the verge of completion, and the political blockage in Greece, due to intense lobbying by the captive industry there, must be lifted; we are working hard to achieve this.
“More than ever, Marineland’s keepers will have a role to play, not only in ensuring the animals’ care for as long as necessary at Marineland, but also, for those who wish, in contributing to the transition and new life of these animals in sanctuaries. The outstretched hand that invites them to work together remains so.”
Sea Shepherd France has just returned from a second trip to Greece, where several potential sites for orcas have been identified. Further analyses are underway to confirm the sites’ suitability.
“The European Union has 185,000 km of coastline; we cannot decently claim that there is no place that could constitute a sanctuary for orcas. If we really want to, we can do it, and France must be a driving force,” says Lamya Essemlali, President of Sea Shepherd France.
WATCH April 2025 footage of the killer whales at Marineland
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