Orcas Stranded in Abandoned Park: A Fight for Survival

Two orcas, Wikie and her 11-year-old son Keijo, are stranded in a dilapidated pool at the former Marineland park in Antibes, France, after a planned move to Spain was blocked. Marineland closed in January 2025 due to declining tourism and a new French law banning marine animal shows. "The owners of these animals are obviously responsible for their well-being," stated the French government. Tidebreakers, a whale rights organization, released the footage, expressing concern for the orcas' safety. The orcas' future remains uncertain as their caretakers' contracts are expiring and their enclosure needs major repairs. The situation highlights the ongoing debate about the ethics of keeping orcas in captivity.