A letter of concern over plans for the three remaining orcas at Marineland, Antibes has been sent by the Dolphinaria-Free Europe coalition, to Monsieur Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecology and Madame Sarah El Haïry, Secretary of State for Biodiversity raising our concerns over the proposed move of orcas Inouk, Wikie, and Keijo, from France to Japan. The orcas are required to be moved ahead of the 2026 deadline in France banning the keeping/public display of cetaceans coming into force.
Chair of Dolphinaria-Free Europe and Director of Marine Connection, Margaux Dodds comments: “It is disgraceful that this move from France was authorised even though an independent assessment, initially ordered by the court in September last year, was not allowed to be undertaken before this decision was made. I am therefore delighted that the court has now recognized the need for this independent expert report to assess the state of the health of these three orcas and that they cannot be moved, but must remain in situ at Marineland, until such time that this report is prepared and considered fully by the court. Only then can the future options for these three orcas be considered.”
