Concern is growing for orcas Wikie and Keijo, a mother and son duo abandoned in a dirty park tank, with disturbing images of their lonely fate making animal lovers cry.
Terrifying new images have emerged that initially appear to show the bodies of two dead killer whales floating in a collapsing tank. Unfortunately, the truth is even more devastating.
In January, before new legislation banning orcas from performing in shows, the French marine park Marineland in Antibes closed its doors to the public. But the desolate theme park is not completely empty.
For many months now, concern has been growing for Wikie and Keijo, a mother and son duo who have been abandoned for almost a year, in silent and filthy conditions.
Disturbing drone images taken by photojournalist Seph Lawless have now shed light on the devastating fate of these majestic creatures and brought tears to many who have seen them.
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In the caption of the video, which they shared via Instagram, Seph revealed that they had initially believed the two orcas were dead. They wrote: “The mother orca appears dead: her body floats motionless in murky water next to her child. But this was not the ocean. These whales were abandoned inside a closed and missing marine park in France.
“This was all that was left when the crowds disappeared and the park closed forever. But then… she moved. Looking directly at my drone, curious, gentle, almost relieved. After all this time, they were no longer alone. It was as if they recognized me, as if hope itself had returned to visit me.“What happened next was heartbreaking and beautiful. The two began to act, as if remembering what it meant to be seen. They began to move, first slowly, then joyfully. Jumping, spinning, interpreting the only language they had been taught… but this time, there was no crowd. Just me… and their longing to be free.”
Describing the moving scenes that unfolded, Seph continued: “Their bodies pass through the still water like memories coming to life: spinning, rising, falling, as if the ghosts of the applause still echo somewhere in their minds.“They still have hope, and their story is not over, unless we let them. To the 55 million people who shared my posts, our voices have already sent ripples against the French government. From the videos, my viral [sic]The French government has said publicly that it is now fully committed. This is the time when we push even harder. Please share your voices with the whole world.”
Although most of the 4,000 animals that once inhabited the park have since been rehomed, Wikie, 23, and Keijo, 11, remain in limbo, along with 12 bottlenose dolphins. Tragically, as EarthDay reported in August, Wikie’s eldest child, Moana, died after contracting a bacterial infection, while her brother, Inouk, died after ingesting a piece of metal found in their tank.
According to this organization, “these deaths were almost certainly not inevitable; they were most likely the result of poor hygiene and the stress of prolonged confinement. Unless action is taken, Wikie and Keijo could be next.”
It was initially hoped that the mother and child could be moved to the Loro Parque Zoológico de Tenerife, but this proposal was ultimately rejected by the local government in Spain. The French government also blocked a proposed rehoming at a marine zoo in Japan, saying the trip would be too strenuous for the animals. What happens next is still unclear, but worryingly, it looks like Wikie and Keijo could be in a race against time.
Marketa Schusterova, co-founder of Tidebreakers, previously told the Mirror: “We know from reviewing the images [of Marineland] that the tank is causing a hazard, we know that it is not being cleaned, it is falling apart. It is a danger for these orcas every day.
“We are very concerned that the situation is so critical and that the water quality is deteriorating to the point of causing health problems for these whales, and they will be euthanized before they have a chance to see a sanctuary, which is tragic because the male, Keijo, is only 11 years old, the mother is 23. Orcas in the wild can live to human age, outside of captivity they can live up to 70 or 80 years.”
Aerial images previously shared by Tidebreakers show green slime accumulating around the edge of their pool, while a neighboring tank is half full with murky brown water.
The issue of orcas in captivity has generated much controversy over the years, and the hard-hitting 2013 documentary Blackfish highlights the physical and psychological toll such conditions can take on these highly intelligent creatures.
In the wild, orcas can swim up to 100 miles a day, and seeing this unlimited freedom reduced to a narrow concrete tank is something that continues to unsettle many animal lovers. Unfortunately, saving Wikie and Keijo isn’t as simple as releasing them into the ocean.
There are fears that the pair will not be able to adapt to life in the wild and could also endanger the health of orcas already in open waters. Offering a suggestion to this difficult dilemma, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation group wrote: “After long periods in captivity, some may be too physically or mentally scarred to survive without human care.
“These individuals should be offered the opportunity to retire and live the rest of their lives in a safe enclosure in a natural cove or bay, where their health and well-being needs are met, they can display more natural behavior, they do not have to perform in shows, and public viewing is only from a distance.”
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
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