Latest news with #TideBreakers
NDTV
24-05-2025
- General
- NDTV
Killer Whales Trapped In Abandoned French Marine Park 4 Months After Closure
It's been more than four months since Marineland, a marine park in southern France, announced its closure, but two killer whales and a dozen dolphins are still stranded there. TideBreakers, an animal advocacy group, recently released distressing aerial footage of orcas - Wikie, 23, and her son Keijo, 11 - swimming aimlessly in the abandoned Marineland Antibes near Cannes, France. Activists rushed to relocate the abandoned creatures after they were left in what they described as "dangerous" and "despairing" conditions, The Standard reported. "The mother and son are still trapped there, waiting for their fate in collapsing tanks," TideBreakers wrote, sharing the video on May 11. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TideBreakers (@wearetidebreakers) Approximately 45 kilometres west of Monaco on the French Riviera's southern coastal town of Antibes, the park houses 12 abandoned dolphins in the algae-infested, deteriorating tanks. According to Marketa Schusterova, co-founder of TideBreakers, the emergency in Marineland Antibes needs to be addressed globally. 'These are the last two remaining orcas in France in captivity and should be moved quickly,' Schusterova said, South West News Service reported. He added that the orcas must be taken out of conditions that endanger their health and well-being. Wikie and Keijo would not be able to survive in the wild because they were both born in confinement, he said. Marineland Antibes shut down on January 5 per the French 2021 law, which prohibited performances involving cetaceans, like dolphins and whales, to entertain the public. The two orcas and 12 dolphins were trapped in their kennels. Following the shutdown, the park administration has been frantically trying to locate the creatures, particularly the killer whales. Although it is no longer a zoo, the management of the facility is still responsible for the animals' welfare, and a small team is in charge of keeping them alive until they are placed in a new home. Despite the dire situation, French officials have rejected alternative proposals, such as a marine zoo in Japan, and have not yet found a suitable location for the orcas in Europe. A plea to move the whales to a sanctuary in Tenerife, Spain, was turned down because the facility currently houses four orcas, including a newborn, BBC reported. After rejecting a zoo in Japan, the Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) in Nova Scotia is a possible destination for the mother-son duo. For now, a skeleton staff is feeding them, but critics caution that this provides little cerebral enrichment—an essential component for highly intelligent animals like orcas.
Gizmodo
20-05-2025
- General
- Gizmodo
Video Shows Orcas Left Behind in Algae-Filled Tanks Months After French Park Shut Down
In November 2021, the French government passed legislation banning the performance of cetaceans, including whales and dolphins. In anticipation of the law coming into effect late next year, the French Riviera's Marineland closed its doors in January. Four months later, two orcas are still captive in the abandoned marine zoo's algae-infested tanks. Earlier this month, the animal welfare organization TideBreakers published drone footage of Marineland in Antibes, France, revealing two captive orcas in greenish tanks. The fate of Wikie and Keijo, a mother and her calf, has been up in the air since the marine zoo closed down earlier this year. TideBreakers is urgently calling for global attention, warning that 'it's been reported euthanasia is a consideration,' according to its video statement. 'Leaving them in a shut-down facility, confined to a crumbling, decrepit tank, is simply not an option,' the organization said in its statement. TideBreakers pointed to a recent tragedy involving the mother and calf's former tankmate, who died after swallowing a piece of metal. 'Time is running out!' it added in its YouTube video caption. Marineland's management, animal welfare organizations, and the French government have been unable to reach an agreement on where the animals should go. Since Wikie and Keijo have spent their entire lives in captivity, releasing them into the wild is not an option. They have learned to depend on humans and would not have the skills to survive, marine biologist and killer whale expert Hanne Strager told the BBC. Last year, the French government blocked a deal to send the orcas to a marine zoo in Japan, claiming that the journey would be too stressful for the animals and that Japanese animal welfare laws aren't stringent enough. More recently, the Spanish government rejected a plan to transfer them to the marine zoo Loro Parque in the Canary Islands. The Whale Sanctuary Project, an animal welfare organization aiming to build a coastal orca sanctuary in Canada, argues that its planned seaside enclosure—essentially a bay closed off with nets—is the only viable solution for Wikie and Keijo. 'The Whale Sanctuary Project is making it clear again to all parties that we are ready to work with the French government, with Marineland Antibes, and with any and all other organizations to bring Wikie and Keijo to the sanctuary we are preparing in Nova Scotia,' the Whale Sanctuary Project wrote in a statement after the Spanish government's decision. 'Last September, in its formal recommendations to the French government, the General Inspectorate of the Ministry of Ecology called the Whale Sanctuary Project the best sanctuary solution for Wikie and Keijo.' Currently, however, there are no operational orca sanctuaries anywhere in the world, according to TideBreakers. While the organization claims that 'the best interim solution would be to build a temporary holding tank for Wikie and Keijo until a sanctuary becomes available,' it emphasizes that there is still 'no sanctuary in Nova Scotia, Canada. Since 2016, the Whale Sanctuary Project has been collecting donations for its non-existent sanctuary, yet its proposed site is polluted and completely unsuitable for orcas. They still don't have permits, and construction hasn't even begun.' Marineland, in addition to the two orcas, also hosts 12 dolphins. It remains to be seen what decision the French government will make about the 14 cetaceans' fate. In the meantime, TideBreakers' stance is clear: 'After years of entertaining the public, they deserve a clean and safe environment where they can live out their remaining years with dignity.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Video of orcas in algae-infested pool sparks concern for their fate
A video posted online of two orcas circling in an algae-infested pool in southern France has brought a fresh wave of worldwide concern for cetaceans, Wikie, 24, and her 11-year-old calf, Keijo. France has been struggling to find a new home for mother and son after their owner, a marine park on the French Riviera, closed down over a law banning shows featuring marine mammals. Founded in the city of Antibes in 1970, Marineland closed to the public in January following a drop in attendance and the 2021 law. In February, the park's management submitted a request to urgently transfer the two orcas, also known as killer whales, and 12 dolphins to two parks in Spain, but the move was blocked by Spanish authorities saying the facilities were adapted for them. "The situation at Marineland Antibes is an emergency," said Canada-based NGO TideBreakers in a social media post after publishing the video. "Leaving them in a shut-down facility, confined to a crumbling, decrepit tank, is simply not an option," it said. Should the two orcas fall ill, they "will likely be euthanized or succumb to the deteriorating environment," the group warned. The video, shot by drone early this month, shows the two orcas and dolphins in tanks, the edges of which are green with algae, amid installations previously used for other marine animals in brackish water. Contacted by AFP, the park management said that the orca and dolphin pools remained well-maintained and that about 50 employees were still working for the animals' well-being. The algae visible in the images were a normal phenomenon, it said, explaining that algae pores present in the filtered seawater that fills the pools develop each spring as the water warms up. They were not harmful to the animals and were regularly removed by brushing, management said. This explanation was backed up by Mike Riddell, who managed the park for 26 years before being dismissed in an ownership change in 2006. AFP pictures taken in May 2020 during a press visit showed similar fine algae covering the edges of the pool. But the TideBreakers footage prompted strong reactions, which, according to the park's management, even included death threats against staff. Officials said they share the NGO's concerns, but the park's attempts to find an emergency solution with the staff of France's environment minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, have come to nothing. Contacted by AFP, ministry officials said authorities were "ensuring that the animals continue to be housed under good conditions, pending their future destination," and that the park was seeking "alternative solutions" moving forward. "The only option left" Animal rights groups want the orcas to be rehomed in a whale sanctuary where they will have more space to swim and will not be forced to breed or perform in shows, the BBC previously reported. Lori Marino, president of the Whale Sanctuary Project, said their site in Nova Scotia is "the only option left," the BBC reported. Her group is bidding to rehome the orcas in the eastern Canadian province despite a previous offer being rejected by the French ministry for ecology earlier this year. A petition is urging the French government to send Wikie and Keijo to the coastal refuge in Nova Scotia, and last October, three environmental icons — Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Sylvia Earle, and Jean-Michel Cousteau — signed a letter recommending that the orcas be relocated to the sea sanctuary. Following the Spanish ban decision, Marineland had hoped to transfer the orcas to a park in Japan. But the move was blocked by the French government, which demanded a transfer to a European park with higher welfare standards. However, a solution involving the only such facility, in Tenerife, Spain, was vetoed last month by the Spanish government, which said the facilities there "did not meet the requirements," according to French officials. NGOs, including One Voice and Sea Shepherd, have requested permission to send specialists to Marineland to check on the orcas. Born in captivity, the two mammals are unable to survive alone. The longer-term solution, the French ministry and NGOs agree, should see the establishment of a marine sanctuary where orcas and dolphins could be cared for in semi-wild conditions. Such a solution would cost $2.2-3.3 million per year, according to Riddell. It is estimated that Wikie and Keijo still have decades to live, under adequate conditions. Raw Video: Mexican navy training ship hits Brooklyn Bridge Italy's Trulli: From Past to Present Judge weighing throwing out Sean "Diddy" Combs trial testimony
CBS News
19-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Video showing orcas circling in algae-infested pool sparks worldwide concern for their fate
A video posted online of two orcas circling in an algae-infested pool in southern France has brought a fresh wave of worldwide concern for cetaceans, Wikie, 24, and her 11-year-old calf Keijo. France has been struggling to find a new home for mother and son after their owner, a marine park on the French Riviera, closed down over a law banning shows featuring marine mammals. Founded in the city of Antibes in 1970, Marineland closed to the public in January following a drop in attendance and the 2021 law. In February, the park's management submitted a request to urgently transfer the two orcas, also known as killer whales, and 12 dolphins to two parks in Spain, but the move was blocked by Spanish authorities saying the facilities were adapted for them. "The situation at Marineland Antibes is an emergency," said Canada-based NGO TideBreakers in a social media post after publishing the video. Here is Tidebreakers' official statement about the situation of 2 orcas and 12 dolphins remaining in a shut down Marineland Antibes. — TideBreakers (@tide_breakers) May 18, 2025 "Leaving them in a shut-down facility, confined to a crumbling, decrepit tank, is simply not an option," it said. Should the two orcas fall ill, they "will likely be euthanized or succumb to the deteriorating environment," the group warned. The video, shot by drone early this month, shows the two orcas and dolphins in tanks the edges of which are green with algae, amid installations previously used for other marine animals in brackish water. Contacted by AFP, the park management said that the orca and dolphin pools remained well-maintained and that about 50 employees were still working for the animals' well-being. The algae visible in the images were a normal phenomenon, it said, explaining that algae pores present in the filtered seawater that fills the pools develop each spring as the water warms up. They were not harmful to the animals and were regularly removed by brushing, management said. This explanation was backed up by Mike Riddell, who managed the park for 26 years before being dismissed in an ownership change in 2006. AFP pictures taken in May 2020 during a press visit showed similar fine algae covering the edges of the pool. But the TideBreakers footage prompted strong reactions, which, according to the park's management, even included death threats against staff. Officials said they share the NGO's concerns, but the park's attempts to find an emergency solution with the staff of France's environment minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, have come to nothing. Contacted by AFP, ministry officials said authorities were "ensuring that the animals continue to be housed under good conditions, pending their future destination," and that the park was seeking "alternative solutions" moving forward. "The only option left" Animal rights groups want the orcas to be rehomed in a whale sanctuary where they will have more space to swim and will not be forced to breed or perform in shows, the BBC previously reported. Lori Marino, president of the Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP), said their site in Nova Scotia is "the only option left," the BBC reported. Her group is bidding to rehome the orcas in the eastern Canadian province despite a previous offer being rejected by the French ministry for ecology earlier this year. A petition is urging the French government to send Wikie and Keijo to the coastal refuge in Nova Scotia, and last October, three environmental icons – Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Sylvia Earle, and Jean-Michel Cousteau – signed a letter recommending that the orcas be relocated to the sea sanctuary. An aerial view of the now-closed Hotel Marineland in Antibes, France on February 15, 2025. The park, which closed permanently on January 5, was the subject of protests by activists against the transfer of orcas Wikie and Keijo. Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed/Anadolu via Getty Images Following the Spanish ban decision, Marineland had hoped to transfer the orcas to a park in Japan. But the move was blocked by the French government, which demanded a transfer to a European park with higher welfare standards. However, a solution involving the only such facility, in Tenerife, Spain, was vetoed last month by the Spanish government, which said the facilities there "did not meet the requirements," according to French officials. NGOs, including One Voice and Sea Shepherd, have requested permission to send specialists to Marineland to check on the orcas. Born in captivity, the two mammals are unable to survive alone. The longer-term solution, the French ministry and NGOs agree, should see the establishment of a marine sanctuary where orcas and dolphins could be cared for in semi-wild conditions. Such a solution would cost $2.2-3.3 million per year, according to Riddell. It is estimated that Wikie and Keijo still have decades to live, under adequate conditions.
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Worry for orcas in French marine park spikes after video
A video posted online of two orcas circling in an algae-infested pool in southern France has brought a fresh wave of worldwide concern for cetaceans Wikie, 24, and her 11-year-old calf Keijo. France has been struggling to find a new home for mother and son after their owner, a marine park on the French Riviera, closed down over a law banning shows featuring marine mammals. Founded in the city of Antibes in 1970, Marineland closed to the public in January following a drop in attendance and the 2021 law. In February, the park's management submitted a request to urgently transfer the two orcas - also known as killer whales - and 12 dolphins to two parks in Spain, but the move was blocked by Spanish authorities saying the facilities were adapted for them. "The situation at Marineland Antibes is an emergency," said Canada-based NGO TideBreakers in a social media post after publishing the video. "Leaving them in a shut-down facility, confined to a crumbling, decrepit tank, is simply not an option," it said. Should the two orcas fall ill, they "will likely be euthanised or succumb to the deteriorating environment". The video, shot by drone early this month, shows the two orcas and dolphins in tanks the edges of which are green with algae, amid installations previously used for other marine animals in brackish water. Contacted by AFP, the park management said that the orca and dolphin pools remained well-maintained and that about 50 employees were still working for the animals' wellbeing. The algae visible in the images were a normal phenomenon, it said, explaining that algae pores present in the filtered seawater that fills the pools developed each spring as the water warms up. They were not harmful to the animals and were regularly removed by brushing, management said. 'Alternative solutions' This explanation was backed up by Mike Riddell, who managed the park for 26 years before being dismissed in an ownership change in 2006. AFP pictures taken in May 2020 during a press visit showed similar fine algae covering the edges of the the pool. But the TideBreakers footage prompted strong reactions which, according to the park's management, even included death threats against staff. Officials said they share the NGO's concerns, but the park's attempts to find an emergency solution together with the staff of France's environment minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher have come to nothing. Contacted by AFP, ministry officials said authorities were "ensuring that the animals continue to be housed under good conditions, pending their future destination", and that the park was seeking "alternative solutions" moving forward. Following the Spanish ban decision, Marineland had hoped to transfer the orcas to a park in Japan. But the move was blocked by the French government, which demanded a transfer to a European park with higher welfare standards. But a solution involving the only such facility, in Tenerife, Spain, was vetoed last month by the Spanish government which said the facilities there "did not meet the requirements", according to French officials. NGOs including One Voice and Sea Shepherd have requested permission to send specialists to Marineland to check on the orcas. Born in captivity, the two mammals are unable to survive alone. The longer term, the French ministry and NGOs agree, should see the establishment of a marine sanctuary where orcas and dolphins could be cared for in semi-wild conditions. Such a solution would cost €2 to €3 million per year, according to Riddell. It is estimated that Wikie and Keijo still have decades to live, under adequate conditions.
