The following is the text of the official statement issued this morning, December 13th, by the Ministry of Ecological Transition in France regarding the future of the mother-and-son orcas Wikie and Keijo at Marineland Antibes.
(Also, see below for the document, as released in French and English in pdf format.)
The Government formalizes decisions on the future of Marineland cetaceans
The Ministry of Ecological Transition is today taking a new decisive step regarding the future of Marineland animals, in order to guarantee their well-being, safety and respect for French law. After several months of technical analysis, inspections and exchanges with experts, the Government presents the following decisions:
The park’s two orcas are destined to join the Whale Sanctuary Project, a marine sanctuary for cetaceans in Nova Scotia, Canada. As a reminder, the Spanish scientific authority has already refused to transfer the orcas to the Loro Parque de Tenerife in Spain, and moreover it would not be understandable for these animals to be exploited for spectacle purposes. The sanctuary’s solution is therefore today the most credible, the most ethical and the only one that complies with the requirements of animal safety and welfare. The transfer could take place in the summer of 2026.
Marineland dolphins are not intended to be transferred to Spain. This option does not provide sufficient guarantees in terms of animal welfare and also exposes animals to a risk of commercial exploitation contrary to the spirit of the 2021 law. The dolphins will be kept temporarily on site, in basins deemed compatible with a temporary reception, pending the opening of the future ZooParc de Beauval center.
These decisions are based on DREAL inspections, scientific expertise and a clear legislative framework to protect cetaceans from exploitation. They also include the situation of the carers, who will benefit from business continuity, in particular through the project carried out by the ZooParc de Beauval.
“The state is acting responsibly and consistently,” said Mathieu Lefèvre, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Negotiations on Climate and Nature, in charge of the Ecological Transition. “After reviewing all the options, we are now making the necessary decisions to ensure the welfare of the animals. Dolphins will not leave for Spain, where they could be exploited again. As for the orcas, their place is at the sanctuary of Nova Scotia: it is the only ethical solution, credible and in accordance with the law. Our role is to protect these animals and to lay the foundation for an exemplary model of transition to marine sanctuaries.”
The ministry will continue in the coming months to implement the necessary administrative steps, in close collaboration with state services, the scientific community, NGOs and the site operator.
(To view pages in the pdfs below, click on arrows in the bar at the bottom of each page. And click on + or – to zoom in or out.)
The Government formalizes decisions regarding the future of Marineland cetacans _ Ministries Spatial Planning Ecological Transition for web Le Gouvernement formalise les decisions concernant lavenir des cetaces de Marineland Ministeres Amenagement du territoire Transition ecologique – for web