Orcas Trapped in Abandoned French Park Spark Global Outrage

Two orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, remain trapped in Marineland Antibes, a marine park in France that shut down in January 2024. Once a tourist hotspot, the park has been abandoned—yet these orcas, and a dozen dolphins, are still confined to concrete tanks.

Wikie made headlines in 2014 as the first orca to mimic human speech. But now, viral footage shows her and Keijo swimming in silent, decaying pools, showing signs of stress and depression.

Attempts to relocate them have stalled. A proposed sanctuary in Nova Scotia was rejected by French officials, who prefer a European alternative—despite having no viable options in place.

Animal rights groups are calling for immediate action, with pressure mounting as the world watches. As one activist put it: “Concrete tanks are not homes. Orcas belong in the ocean.”