The government of France says it has yet to make a decision about the fate of two captive killer whales that an animal welfare group wants to bring to a proposed coastal refuge in Nova Scotia.
French officials had said it would make a decision by March 31, but that deadline came and went.
On Tuesday, the country’s minister responsible for ecological transition told a French senate committee that the two orcas, Wikie and Keijo, remain the private property of Marineland Antibes in the south of France.
“Regarding Canada, I would just note that Marineland doesn’t want a transfer to Canada,” Mathieu Lefèvre told the committee.
“And being extremely respectful of private property, we must recognize that these animals are not the property of the French government. They are the property of Marineland. We must also take this position into account, before anything else.”
Lefèvre gave no indication of when the French government would make a decision.
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“As soon as we can make a decision that respects the health and well-being of the animals, and of the social and economic situation, we will do this,” he told the committee.
The marine theme park in Antibes closed in January 2025 after the government passed a law that will prohibit cetaceans from being kept in captivity for entertainment purposes by the end of this year.
The privately funded Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia issued a statement Thursday saying the organization was looking forward to working with the government of France and Marineland Antibes.
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“While current laws classify whales as property, an unfortunate reality, we do not believe ownership alone should determine the future of Wikie and Keijo,” said Charles Vinick, CEO of the non-profit project.
“We stand ready to work collaboratively with the owners of Marineland Antibes, the trainers who are currently caring for the whales, and the government to support a safe and successful transition for whales like Wikie and Keijo.”
In December, France’s Ministry of Ecological Transition identified the Whale Sanctuary Project as the most credible option that meets French legal requirements. At the time, Lefèvre said that despite his government’s endorsement, there remained a lack of consensus among stakeholders.
Last month, the Whale Sanctuary Project announced it had begun clearing land at its site at Wine Harbour in eastern Nova Scotia. Organizers say a large sea pen with floating nets should be completed by the second half of this year.
The organization wants to build a 40-hectare underwater enclosure that could hold up to 10 whales retired from marine theme parks. A fence has already been erected around the property, about 200 kilometres east of Halifax.
In October, the Nova Scotia government approved a 20-year lease for the group, covering 83 hectares of Crown lands and coastal waters.
But the project requires transfer permits from the federal Fisheries Department and plenty of fundraising to cover the $15-million cost of construction and $1.5 million in annual operating expenses.
The whales arent your private property, they have feelings you know. A house is your property, start treating theses whales with respect they deserve that. They want their home in the ocean, why cant you release them? Its disgusting what you are doing to them as it is, keeping them in dirty tanks there skin could experience skin conditions later on in life, they probably arent getting the right quantity of food off the carers. I dont understand why it has to take so long to come to a decision, the decision should already be there with what the situation is in front of you.
Marineland has used the whales for profit for many years and now that laws have changed, they should respect the orcas lives and give them a nice retirement in a sanctuary rather than find one last way to exploit them. Their current living situation is dire and cruel. The tanks are filthy, mindless, small and stressful. It’s inhumane and the French government should have the authority to remove the whales based on the poor living conditions that Marineland continues to keep them in. When a dog or cat treater inhumanely, it is removed from its owner. Why are these whales any different? We have all learned that whales are complex social creatures and these tiny tanks for entertainment are not suitable and create immense stress on them. It’s time to show care and compassion and provide them with as much freedom as possible by sending them to Nova Scotia. This should not be about stakeholders, it should be what’s best for the 2 orcas.
We can bring whales from France but not the ones in Marine Land? 🤪 on par with the dissonance that’s become the real pandemic in the Canadian mindset. And the level of gross depravity.
No whales and other animals aren’t property. A chair or TV is. You total a holes. Humans sicken me. Let’s go extinct. We’re a useless evil species