Considerations Raised Over Marineland Orcas’ Attainable Transfer To SeaWorld Florida

Marineland Replace:

The Born Free Basis expressed critical considerations yesterday about the way forward for the orcas and dolphins at Marineland Antibes, stating:

“Born Free is deeply involved to listen to that Marineland is reportedly contemplating sending Wikie and her son Keijo, the 2 orcas presently housed at their facility in Antibes, France, throughout the ocean to SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, the place they’d proceed to reside in tiny tanks and be exploited for revenue.

“The way forward for the orcas, and twelve bottlenose dolphins housed alongside them, has been unsure since Marineland Antibes shut its doorways to guests a 12 months in the past in response to a French regulation banning orca and dolphin reveals and ending the preserving of cetaceans in business captive services within the nation.

“Born Free urges Marineland to uphold the spirit of the French regulation and concentrate on securing real sanctuary look after all of the remaining animals at Antibes, the place they’ll reside out their lives in security and luxury.”

The message is obvious: these animals deserve freedom, dignity, and true sanctuary—not a lifetime in tanks.

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Disturbing footage captured on Could 7 by TideBreakers reveals extreme neglect of two orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, together with 12 dolphins on the closed Marineland Antibes in France. The animals are seen languishing in algae-infested tanks, and their seen neglect has sparked pressing requires motion.

In Protection of Animals is demanding rapid intervention from French authorities, together with the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the Departmental Directorate for Inhabitants Safety (DDPP), the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, and the Mayor of Antibes, Jean Leonetti. French regulation obligates these authorities to stop animal cruelty and neglect, failure to behave might represent authorized violations.

“Forcing an animal to endure in filth is a prison offense,” mentioned Fleur Dawes, Communications Director at In Protection of Animals. “French authorities should both drive Parques Reunidos to supply rapid care or seize the animals now — Wikie, Keijo, and 12 dolphins might die of neglect in these appalling situations.”

Underneath Article L215-11 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, professionals answerable for pointless mistreatment of animals can withstand one 12 months in jail and a €15,000 nice. Article 521-1 of the Penal Code gives for as much as three years in jail and a €45,000 nice for cruelty to a captive animal, or 5 years and €75,000 if the animal dies.

Marineland Antibes, owned by Spanish leisure park operator Parques Reunidos, closed in January 2025, a 12 months earlier than France’s 2026 ban on cetacean reveals takes full impact. But the park laid off workers and left the animals trapped in deteriorating situations on the shuttered facility.

In April, Spain declared Loro Parque within the Canary Islands unfit for the orcas to be moved to, citing unacceptable situations on the leisure middle owned by German entrepreneur Wolfgang Kiessling. Spain’s scientific panel concluded that Loro Parque’s services “don’t meet the minimal necessities by way of floor space, quantity, and depth crucial to accommodate the specimens in optimum situations.” This official evaluation reinforces widespread animal welfare considerations about Loro Parque, the place orcas have been documented with damaged tooth, rake marks, and behavioral abnormalities.

In Protection of Animals is asking on the French authorities to behave in accordance with its personal animal safety legal guidelines to avoid wasting Wikie, Keijo, and the 12 dolphins struggling at Marineland Antibes.