France’s Minister of Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, has strongly opposed the proposed transfer of the two remaining orcas, Wikie and Keijo, from the Marineland park in Antibes, France, to a park in Kobe, Japan, citing Japan’s lack of stringent regulations on animal welfare.
Issued on: 26/11/2024 – 12:59
2 min
Wikie and Keijo, the last two orcas living in captivity at Marineland, have been at the center of a heated debate regarding their future, with the park facing a December 1, 2026 deadline to part with the pair due to a 2021 law prohibiting their detention.
On Monday, Minister Pannier-Runacher expressed her opposition to the transfer, stating that while there are parks in countries like Spain that can accommodate orcas with extensive regulations on animal welfare, Japan falls short in this regard.
“The well-being of these animals is of utmost importance, and we cannot in good conscience transfer them to a country that does not prioritize their welfare,” Pannier-Runacher told TF1 broadcaster, highlighting the need for parks to adhere to rigorous standards for the care and housing of orcas.
Located on the picturesque Côte d’Azur, Marineland has been home to Wikie and Keijo since their birth in 2001 and 2013, respectively, and the park’s management has been exploring options for their relocation, including the proposed transfer to Kobe.
However, animal rights groups, such as One Voice, have advocated for an alternative solution, suggesting a transfer to a sanctuary in Nova Scotia, Canada, which boasts larger enclosures than the Kobe park.
Minister Pannier-Runacher has also expressed reservations about this option, instead recommending parks that adhere to European regulations, such as the park in Tenerife, Spain.
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One Voice has requested a court order to suspend the transfer pending a health assessment of the orcas, with President Muriel Arnal stating that the current state of their health does not permit their transport.
Marineland has appealed the original court order, and the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal is set to render its decision on December 5.
Last March, two of the four orcas at Marineland tragically passed away, one due to septicemia and the other after ingesting a foreign object, highlighting the need for stringent care and housing standards.
Standoff with Japan
Arnal has drawn a parallel between the fate of the orcas and that of fellow activist Paul Watson, who is currently being held in a Greenland jail on a 2012 Japanese arrest warrant for causing damage to a whaling ship in the Antarctic in 2010 and injuring a whaler.
Watson’s detention has been extended, prompting his legal team to file a request for French nationality to avoid extradition to Japan, which has been criticized for its whaling practices.
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Arnal has expressed hope that the President of the Republic will grant Watson political asylum and that the Ministry of Ecology will prevent the transfer of the orcas to Japan, citing the need for diplomatic negotiations to resolve these interconnected issues.
“It’s a matter of doing what’s right for the animals and for human rights,” Arnal said.
(with AFP)
