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Their present residence, Marineland Antibes, has been closed to visitors since January. Yet, almost a year later, Wikie and Keijo remain there.
Efforts by Marineland Antibes to relocate Wikie and Keijo to a marine park in Japan were thwarted when the French government declined the proposal, citing concerns over inadequate animal protection standards.
Thus, the dilemma persists: what is the next destination for Wikie and Keijo?
Following the introduction of French legislation, Wikie’s 25-year-old brother, Inouk, and her 12-year-old son, Moana, have both died at Marineland.
Orcas are known to cover hundreds of kilometers daily, with frequent dives reaching depths of 20 to 30 meters. However, the largest enclosures typically measure only about 70 meters in length, 30 meters in width, and 10 to 12 meters in depth.
Orcas can travel hundreds of kilometres a day, regularly diving 20 to 30m below the surface. Rose said the largest enclosures only tend to be around 70m long, 30m wide, and 10 to 12m deep.
Wikie and one of her babies in 2011 at the Marineland park in Antibes, France. Credit: AAP / AP / Lionel Cironneau
Whales born and raised in captivity, like Wikie and Keijo, have spent their lives performing for food. They haven’t had the chance to learn necessary survival skills, so can’t be released into the wild.
The “goal is to provide as many of these animals who are currently in captivity the option of a dignified retirement,” Rose told Dateline.
The potential for whale sanctuaries
There are currently no sanctuaries capable of supporting orcas.
The next step takes “a lot of money” — she estimates US$15 million ($22.6 million).
A graphic rendering of the proposed whale sanctuary in Canada. Credit: Whale Sanctuary Project
“We know exactly what we need to do to create the sanctuary,” she told Dateline. “We need the whales.”
But while a French government-commissioned report described it as the “most credible innovative solution”, they found it wasn’t feasible to be ready for how quickly Marineland wants to move the whales, despite an offer of an accelerated timeline for construction.
Why is rehoming whales so complicated?
In the wake of the documentary’s release, a campaign to #EmptyTheTanks spread on social media alongside protests outside SeaWorld, as public pressure increased to end orca captivity at marine parks around the world, encouraging the transfer of captive whales to sanctuaries where possible.
Tilikum was one of the orca whales used for SeaWorld’s Shamu show. He was the subject of the documentary Blackfish. Credit: AAP / AP / Phelan M. Ebenhack
SeaWorld ultimately stopped its orca breeding program, announcing their current whales would be the last generation at their parks.
“Our planet’s been going to hell in a handbasket for the last few decades,” she said.
“It happens once in a while, but it doesn’t justify the suffering these animals go through to make five conservationists.”
From dolphin trainer to whale scientist
She believes she may not have entered wildlife science without the story of Keiko, the captive star of Free Willy whose controversial return to the ocean is still debated more than two decades after his death.
After the success of the 1993 film Free Willy, Keiko the whale — who had been in captivity since age two — was released into the wild in 2002. He died a year later of pneumonia. Credit: AAP / Mary Evans Picture Library
She doesn’t want to see more wild animals captured for facilities like marine parks.
As a former trainer, Pirotta said it’s important to remember that facilities have a duty to continue providing for animals in their care “so they can see out their life in the best way possible”.
While lifespans vary between captivity and the wild, Corky, the oldest captive orca is in her late fifties and has lived at SeaWorld San Diego for more than 30 years.
Thirty belugas under threat of euthanasia
Marineland of Canada (no relation to Marineland Antibes) closed to the public in September 2024. Thirty beluga whales still live there.
Belugas at the Marineland of Canada marine park, pictured here in 2012. The park stopped operating in 2024. Credit: Gett Images / Tara Walton / Toronto Star
An application to transfer them to a Chinese marine park was rejected after concerns they would return to performing in captivity.
However, she doubts there is a way the whales could be killed “without delving into criminal animal cruelty”.
“The world has plenty of coastline. The world has plenty of goodwill.”
