People are racing against the clock as they work tirelessly to save two orcas that are trapped. The mother-and-son duo currently resides in a shut-down aquarium in south-eastern France. Now, people are trying to save the magnificent creatures before it is too late.
Mother and Son Orcas Are Trapped In Shut Down Aquarium
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The Guardian shares that the " aquarium complex in south-eastern France that once drew half a million visitors a year." However, since it shut down in January of 2025, that is no longer the case. Now that visitors are no longer gracing the aquarium, it has become unkempt. Weeds are growing along the sidewalk, matching the color of the now algae-filled pools. You may assume that when an aquarium shuts down that all of the animals are safely removed from it. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
Two orcas remained trapped in their now filthy pool, left behind without a second thought. Despite having been born in the pool and performing in it for decades, that did nothing to help their status when the aquarium shut down. Luckily, many organizations know that these two animals, along with several others, are stuck there. The outlet shared that "the French government, animal welfare organisations and Marineland Antibes will come together to decide their fate."
Their fate has caused quite a bit of debate. This is particularly true because "Since 2021, when a French law was passed prohibiting keeping cetaceans in captivity." Additionally, they are not the only animals still being held at the non-operational aquarium. 12 bottlenose dolphins also called the shutdown aquarium home. However, their fate has already been decided. Officials deemed the dolphins' living conditions acceptable "for a transitional stay." Thus, meaning those 12 animals will stay in their pool until a new facility is willing and able to house them.
Trapped Orcas Need To Be Saved Now
Although the dolphins' habitat has been deemed acceptable, the same cannot be said for the orcas. The orcas have been trapped in a filthy pool, and many are arguing that the conditions are less than favorable. Therefore, the debate is not about whether or not these animals should be relocated, but rather to where. The Guardian shared that "In December 2025, the French minister delegate for ecological transition, Mathieu Lefèvre, announced that Wikie and Keijo would be sent to the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia, Canada."
That location seems suitable for the whales as its 100-acre outdoor spaces give them plenty of room to dive and move around. Additionally, this location mimics a seaside environment as best as it can, giving these trapped orcas much-needed stimulation. However, animal welfare groups are not entirely on board. That is mainly because this sanctuary is not yet completed and lacks the necessary funding to finish the job. Therefore, activists are arguing that this move is purely hypothetical, and these trapped orcas don't have time for hypothetical solutions.
Instead, they argue that the mother-and-son duo should be transferred to another aquarium that can accept them immediately.
