Wildlife enthusiasts have finally been given an update on the tragic situation of two orcas who were “left for dead” in an abandoned marine park.
The sea creatures, who have been stuck in their enclosure in France, have now been handed a lifeline.
Last year, drone footage revealed that the country’s last two captive orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, were still trapped in a closed-down marine zoo.
They could be seen wandering around in algae-filled tanks, as authorities delayed arrangements to put them in a new home.
The park closed its doors last January and the deteriorating orca enclosure at Marineland Antibes has proved a grim sight.
Despite the shocking conditions, the whales have survived through it all, though they are in need of clean water, social interaction and mental stimulation to survive in the long term.
Promising update on the orcas
While campaigners feared that the creatures would die in the park after delay after delay, it looks like there may be some light at the end of the tunnel.
Despite assurances from French president Emmanuel Macron that action would be taken to save the animals, officials struggled to find a new home.
Releasing Wilkie and Keijo into the wild was considered but written off, as they have spent their entire lives in captivity.
But now, Tenerife zoo Loro Parque has revealed that the pair may have a new home awaiting, confirming they would be happy to take the stranded orcas in.
This will save the orcas’ lives if the move is given the green light by Spanish authorities.
The president of the Loro Parque Group, Wolfgang Kiessling, stated that they are happy to “rescue Wikie and Keijo and offer all available resources to ensure they do not die and can be permanently housed under conditions that guarantee their protection and welfare”.
He did reiterate that Spain’s government must formally approve the transfer before any action is taken.
An official statement read: “This cannot be treated as a simple administrative procedure,
“It concerns the lives of two animals who require an immediate and permanent solution, technically viable and endorsed by the competent authorities of the countries involved.”
He made sure to highlight that this was not about profit, revealing: “We do not earn a single euro more by having six orcas instead of four.
“We are doing this out of moral, technical, and professional responsibility.
“We do it because we know how to care for these animals and because we want to prevent Wikie and Keijo from dying in France without a real alternative.”
It has been reported that France’s Minister Delegate for Ecological Transition, Mathieu LefĂ©vre, has approved the move to Tenerife, meaning the ball is in the Spanish government’s court.
Campaigners are being quick to try and prevent the deaths of the desperate orcas.
Loro Parque stated that Wilkie and Keijo are now its “top priority”, as they have invested upwards of $30million in recent years on conservation projects alone, protecting 18 species.
PETA Watch said of the French Government’s decision: “This is the right call which puts the welfare of the orcas first and the option most likely to protect their well being.”
They also said that this was a great response to animal rights activists who have been “pushing for fantasy solutions like returning the orcas to the oceans or non-existent sea sanctuary.”
The charity said that this decision is the best for the orcas, as they will get expert veterinary care and long-term stability at Loro Parque.