{"id":344826,"date":"2025-12-15T05:54:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T05:54:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/activist\/france-moves-to-send-its-last-captive-orcas-to-sanctuary-canada-must-follow-suit-for-marinelands-belugas\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T05:54:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T05:54:52","slug":"france-moves-to-send-its-last-captive-orcas-to-sanctuary-canada-must-follow-suit-for-marinelands-belugas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=344826","title":{"rendered":"France Moves to Send Its Last Captive Orcas to Sanctuary\u2014Canada Must Follow Suit for Marineland\u2019s Belugas"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

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The French government has taken a commendable and proactive step toward securing a safe future for its last two captive orcas, Wikie and Keijo. The Whale Sanctuary Project<\/a> (WSP) announced today<\/a> that it will be working with France and Marineland Antibes to explore relocating the orcas to the Nova Scotia sanctuary once it opens, potentially as early as 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This government-led effort to secure a safe future for these cetaceans stands in stark contrast to the Ontario and federal governments\u2019 continued inaction on behalf of the 30 belugas still suffering at Marineland in Niagara Falls.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wikie, 23, and her son Keijo, 11, were both born in captivity and have spent their entire lives in concrete tanks. Since Marineland Antibes (not connected to Canada\u2019s Marineland) shuttered in early 2025, drone footage has documented the pair circling their tiny, algae-ridden enclosure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Wikie\"Wikie
Wikie and Keijo. Photo: TideBreakers, taken May 7, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

France Takes the Lead on Captive Cetacean Welfare<\/h2>\n

France was one of the first European countries to ban the use of cetaceans<\/a> in live entertainment and to prohibit captive breeding\u2014legislation that will be fully in effect by December 2026. Marineland Antibes, the last facility in France holding orcas, closed to the public in January 2025. While most of the 4,000 animals once kept there have been relocated, Wikie, Keijo, and several dolphins remain trapped on-site.<\/p>\n

Marineland Antibes has tried to transfer Wikie and Keijo to aquariums in both Japan and Spain, but their attempts have been blocked, citing poor welfare standards and unsuitable conditions, respectively.<\/p>\n

France is now coordinating directly with WSP and Marineland Antibes to find a solution that prioritizes the orcas\u2019 wellbeing, autonomy, and long-term care.<\/p>\n

Sanctuary Placement Still Possible for Marineland\u2019s Belugas<\/h2>\n

The Whale Sanctuary Project<\/a> has confirmed that it will still be able to welcome several belugas from Marineland in Niagara Falls, even if Wikie and Keijo arrive first. This relocation, if it moves forward, could lead to increased support and resources for the sanctuary\u2014bringing it closer to opening and offering a lifeline to the whales still stranded at Marineland in ever-deteriorating conditions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For Canada\u2019s belugas, the only barrier is government action\u2014and Marineland\u2019s ongoing refusal to cooperate in securing a safe future for the whales and dolphins it\u2019s exploited for decades. More than 20 whales and dolphins have died<\/a> at Marineland since 2019\u2014including Kiska<\/a>, the last captive orca in Canada.\u00a0After the park closed, Marineland attempted to export the surviving belugas to a Chinese theme park. When the federal government rejected this<\/a>, the facility threatened to kill the whales<\/a>, and has thus far refused to agree to a sanctuary placement. <\/p>\n

\"Whale\"Whale
Rendering of the sanctuary site in Nova Scotia.
Photo: Whale Sanctuary Project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Freedom at Last for Marineland\u2019s Belugas\u2014Only if Canada Acts<\/h2>\n

Ontario can legally intervene and take over the belugas\u2019 care at Marineland\u2019s expense, and the federal government can help secure safe placements<\/a> for all whales. Unfortunately, both levels of government have allowed months to pass while the whales continue to suffer behind closed doors.<\/p>\n

The Nova Scotia sanctuary<\/a> is expected to open as early as summer 2026. To prepare for any whale transfers next year, WSP must complete critical construction phases before the end of the summer. Work is already underway, but additional funding and government cooperation are essential.<\/p>\n

France has shown what responsible, welfare-centred leadership looks like. Canada must act with the same urgency to protect the belugas in Niagara Falls and secure their safe relocation to sanctuary as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Tell federal and provincial leaders to follow France\u2019s leadership and act immediately. These whales can\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n

\n

Banner image: TideBreakers<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The French government has taken a commendable and proactive step toward securing a safe future for its last two captive orcas, Wikie and Keijo. The Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) announced today that it will be working with France and Marineland Antibes to explore relocating the orcas to the Nova Scotia sanctuary once it opens, potentially […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":344827,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12022],"tags":[165247,27113,3774,9633,54505,11379,165246,167668,11285,868],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-344826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activist","tag-belugas","tag-captive","tag-follow","tag-france","tag-marinelands","tag-moves","tag-orcas","tag-sanctuarycanada","tag-send","tag-suit"],"yoast_head":"\nFrance Moves to Send Its Last Captive Orcas to Sanctuary\u2014Canada Must Follow Suit for Marineland\u2019s Belugas - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=344826\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"France Moves to Send Its Last Captive Orcas to Sanctuary\u2014Canada Must Follow Suit for Marineland\u2019s Belugas - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The French government has taken a commendable and proactive step toward securing a safe future for its last two captive orcas, Wikie and Keijo. 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