France's last two captive orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, are in dire straits. They were filmed stranded in an algae-infested marine park near Cannes. This occurred months after Marineland Antibes closed its doors.
Animal activists are circulating footage of the orcas' plight. They hope the French government will rehome them before it's too late. Marineland Antibes shuttered on January 5, following France's bans on dolphin and whale shows.
Heartwrenching aerial footage shows the cetaceans languishing in algae-choked pools. The park resembles a post-apocalyptic SeaWorld. Campaigns to rehouse the orcas have so far failed.
French authorities are blocking efforts to transfer the animals to a marine zoo in Japan. Spanish authorities rejected a proposal to move them to Loro Parque in Tenerife. They claimed the facility lacked sufficient space.
Lori Marino, president of the Whale Sanctuary Project, is campaigning to rehome Wikie and Keijo to Nova Scotia, Canada. She believes this is the "only option left". The team has experts from a whale sanctuary designed to house Keiko, the orca from "Free Willy".
Managers at Marineland stressed that Wikie and Keijo "must leave now" for their own welfare. Releasing them into the wild is not an option, as they were both born in captivity. Animal advocates are urging for a clean and safe environment for the orcas to live out their remaining years.