Overview

• Two orcas, Wikie and Keijo, along with 12 dolphins, remain confined in algae-covered tanks at the shuttered Marineland Antibes, closed since January 2025 due to a ban on cetacean performances.
• Drone footage released by TideBreakers shows the animals in deteriorating enclosures, raising global concern about their welfare and sparking renewed advocacy efforts.
• French authorities have blocked relocation proposals to facilities in Spain, Japan, and Nova Scotia, citing unsuitability or regulatory issues, leaving the animals without an approved destination.
• Michael Payne, a UK MP, has urged the British government to assist in finding a sanctuary, emphasizing the animals’ urgent need for improved conditions.
• While Marineland staff maintain basic care, NGOs and experts advocate for a dedicated marine sanctuary, estimated to cost €2–3 million annually, as a long-term solution.