The Minister of Ecological Transition wants the two orcas from Antibes to leave for the Spanish Loro Parque park before the end of June. The dolphins still present at Marineland must also be transferred.
The Marineland orcas case is entering a new phase. This Friday, the Minister of Ecological Transition, Mathieu Lefèvre, visited Antibes to tour the former marine park closed since January 2025. Following this visit, the minister confirmed his support for transferring the two orcas still on the site, Wikie and her son Keijo, to the Spanish Loro Parque park in Tenerife.
Mathieu Lefèvre explained that he wanted to “not make the status quo a solution” for the two cetaceans. The French government has approved this transfer, expected “in the coming weeks, before the end of June.”
Tanks deemed degraded at Marineland
The minister’s visit comes as the condition of the facilities concerns Marineland management. Present on site, the park’s CEO, Pascal Ferracci, mentioned tanks that are “cracked” and “dilapidated”. Pascal Ferracci also said that “obviously we can no longer wait.”
Closed for a year and a half, Marineland in Antibes remains at the center of debates over the future of captive animals. Animal rights groups contest the choice of a transfer to Spain and denounce the keeping of orcas in marine parks.
Twelve dolphins still live on the Antibes site. The presented plan provides for distribution between two Spanish facilities, located in Valencia and Malaga. In the longer term, a transfer to Beauval Zoo is being considered, with the creation of a suitable space.
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