Nottinghamshire MP weighs in on 'critical' fight to save Orca whales trapped in abandoned park
A Nottinghamshire MP has weighed in on the battle to save two Orca whales and 12 dolphins who are trapped in an abandoned marine park in France. Michael Payne, the Labour MP for Gedling, has urged the government minister responsible for animal welfare to get involved in the fight to rescue Wikie, aged 23, and her 11-year-old son Keijo
The two orcas are trapped in the Marineland Antibes in southern France, which closed in January 2025 following the implementation of legislation banning performances by whales and dolphins. Along with twelve dolphins, the Mirror has reported that the animals are aimlessly circling tanks filled with algae.
French authorities have so far refused rehoming offers from Canada, Japan and Tenerife. Mr Payne writes in his letter to Baroness Hayman of Ullock: "As Britain has long and proud history of championing animal welfare and environmental stewardship, I respectfully urge you to use your good offices to take urgent steps to support the French authorities in any way possible to steward an immediate relocation of these animals to a suitable sanctuary, including whether there would be an opportunity for these magnificent creatures to be rehomed here in the UK.
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"This is a critical moment. The longer these animals remain in their current conditions, the greater the risk is to their physical and psychological well-being.
"The UK government's voice could be instrumental in encouraging and supporting French authorities to facilitate a compassionate resolution. I trust you will agree that the UK must continue to lead by example in protecting vulnerable wildlife.
"I would be grateful if you could raise this matter with your counterparts in France and support international efforts to secure a safe and dignified future for these animals."
Wikie and Keijo are currently under the park's legal guardianship until a new home is found for them, yet their caretakers have stressed that the Orcas must "leave now" for their own well-being.
A proposed relocation to Loro Parque marine zoo in Tenerife was recently vetoed, despite the zoo housing four of its own captive Orcas - including a calf born in March this year.
The scientific panel responsible for approving such moves stated that the new tank would "not meet the minimum requirements in terms of surface area, volume and depth necessary to house the specimens in optimal conditions".
French ecology minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher expressed her desire in February to find a European sanctuary for the duo but admitted that a suitable location had not yet been identified.
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