Antibes, Thursday, 21 August 2025.
EarthDay.org has launched an urgent campaign to save two captive orcas, Wikie and Keijo, trapped in the deteriorating Marineland Antibes facility in France. Following the 2021 French law banning whale and dolphin captivity, the organization demands a transparent relocation plan from Parques Reunidos. The situation has drawn international attention, with Star Trek actor William Shatner personally appealing to French President Emmanuel Macron to intervene before the animals’ health further declines. The orcas remain in crumbling facilities, with no clear path to a sanctuary or protected environment, highlighting the complex challenges of marine mammal welfare and captivity.