In the silence of Antibes Marineland, now closed for months, two dark shapes move slowly beneath the surface. They are Wikie and Keijo, mother and son, the last remaining orcas in Europe’s largest water park. For almost a year they have been living in a ghostly environment, among murky tanks and ruined structures, as shown in a video released by activist Seph Lawless. The images, published on October 26, show the animals still, almost immobile, until the human presence pushes them to move, to make automatic gestures, legacies of years of performances in front of the public.
Orcas are social animals, used to living in family groups united by deep bonds and complex languages. In nature they travel tens of kilometers a day, communicate with unique sounds and share real rituals. Locking them up in a tank means destroying this social dimension. It is not surprising that the only known attacks on humans have occurred in captivity, an unnatural context where frustration turns into suffering.
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A future still uncertain
The closure of Marineland, following the French ban on the use of cetaceans in shows, should have marked the end of an era. Instead, Wikie and Keijo remained behind, like forgotten prisoners. The French government has refused transfers to other parks, such as Loro Parque in Tenerife or Japanese facilities, so as not to perpetuate the cycle of exploitation.
The only concrete hope comes from the Whale Sanctuary Project, which is building a marine refuge in Nova Scotia: a place where animals can swim freely, while remaining protected. President Lori Marino confirmed her willingness to welcome the orcas, but the wait is getting long.
Meanwhile, Lawless’s images have moved millions of people and brought attention to the issue of animal welfare. Wikie and Keijo continue to swim sad and alone in the tiny pool of a water park, symbol of a generation of creatures that we first trained, then forgot. Now only one question remains: will we really be able to free them or will we let them fade into oblivion in their silent aquarium?
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