The unexpected closure of Marineland marine park in France has led to desperate last-minute plans to relocate two orca whales. All that’s required for Wikie and her son, Keijo, to flourish is a safe environment. The pair are at the center of a broader conversation about the welfare of cetaceans in captivity and the changing legal landscape surrounding their treatment.
Dr. Lori Marino is one of the leading champions for creating a sanctuary for orcas and other cetaceans. To bring this vision to life, she founded the Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP). The WSP’s ultimate commitment is to provide a natural habitat for all marine mammals. These remarkable animals are capable of swimming hundreds of kilometers per day and diving depths of 20-30 meters. Dr. Marino underscores the need for facilities to be up to par with standards that reflect the innate, expansive habitat of their wild counterparts. She has found that the best predictor of how a species will do in captivity is its wild distribution.
In many ways, Wikie, 24 years old, and Keijo, 12, have come to represent the future of captivity for orcas. Their plight has garnered attention following a French government report that described the Whale Sanctuary Project as “the most credible innovative solution” for their relocation.
In this context, important legislative strides have recently been made for cetacean welfare. In 2019, the Canadian parliament adopted Bill S-203 to make it illegal to keep whales and dolphins in captivity. Just two years later, France went even further, banning the captivity of any cetacean—and their use in performances—completely. It’s a field that isn’t standing still. In March, SeaWorld made headlines when it announced that it would cease its orca breeding program, stating that its current whales will be the last generation at its parks.
Marine parks and aquariums will have until December 2026 to relocate animals currently in captivity. This deadline means that it’s critical to line up the funding and support you’ll need. The Whale Sanctuary Project to date estimates that it needs about $15 million to move.
Dr. Marino emphasizes the near-pivotal point at which our marine facilities stand.
“There are a lot of facilities … [that are] closing down, and that’s a great first step, and I applaud them for that. But now they need to step up and help care for these animals who they bred into captivity.” – Lori Marino
Dr. Naomi Rose, a marine mammal biologist and senior scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute based in Washington DC. She issues a dire warning for the future of cetaceans such as Wikie and Keijo as institutions go bankrupt or are otherwise forced to close their doors.
“What happens to all these animals as facilities go bankrupt and shut down?” – Dr. Naomi Rose
The Whale Sanctuary Project got permission from Nova Scotia’s provincial government in October, giving additional impetus to its cause. While Dr. Marino has been cautiously optimistic about these developments, talks with the French government continue, and the fate of Wikie and Keijo remains uncertain.
“We’ve been having some very open, very substantive conversations with [the French government] about Wikie and Keijo.” – Lori Marino
The new proposed sanctuary will provide conditions that better mirror the natural habitat of orcas. This program addresses several shortcomings common to conventional marine reserves. The biggest tanks for orcas are around 70 m long, 30 m wide and 10–12 m deep. These dimensions are enormous and smaller than the immense ranges orcas swim in the wild.
With increasing public concern for orca wellbeing comes increased pressure on the facilities that continue to keep orcas captive. Even Joel Manby, the former CEO of SeaWorld, admitted in recent years that the tides had turned against orcas.
“We’ve helped make orcas among the most beloved marine mammals on the planet.” – Joel Manby
While he expressed contentment with the progress that marine parks have made, he recognized that changing public attitude requires a rethinking of marine parks’ practices.
“As society’s understanding of orcas continues to change, SeaWorld is changing with it.” – Joel Manby
Though this is an incredible step forward, many are still worried at the potential challenges and complications of moving cetaceans from captivity to sanctuary environments. Dr Vanessa Pirotta points out that sanctuaries offer vastly superior living environments compared with typical marine parks. They are still faced with many challenges.
“The reality is these animals are also long-lived, which means that a small pool of money may sustain a period of time but may not be ongoing.” – Dr. Vanessa Pirotta
What’s happening today is a part of a larger societal movement to recognize the ethics of animal captivity. With increasing facility closures and regulations just tightening around the world, experts are calling for responsible solutions that put the welfare of the animals first.
“There is largely a discrepancy of understanding of the pros and the cons of captivity… it’s very tricky.” – Dr. Vanessa Pirotta
Wikie and Keijo’s move makes for a powerful emotional appeal to save these intellectually superior non-human animals. It spotlights the deep need for systemic change to improve the MARINE MAMMALS IN HER CARE.
