A non-profit organization in Nova Scotia has faced a setback in its attempt to relocate two killer whales from France to a planned seaside sanctuary for retired marine theme park whales. The Whale Sanctuary Project announced on Friday that the French government opted to transfer the orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, to Loro Parque zoo in Spain’s Tenerife Island.
This decision is a blow to the group’s plans to establish a 40-hectare enclosure near Wine Harbour, N.S., which was announced over six years ago. The sanctuary, equivalent in size to 50 football fields, would feature a series of floating nets extending from the shore. Experts emphasize that whales and dolphins raised in captivity lack the essential survival skills needed for release back into the wild.
Following the closure of Marineland Antibes in southern France in January 2025 to comply with a 2021 French law prohibiting the captivity of whales and dolphins for entertainment purposes, the French government approved the relocation of the orcas to the zoo on the Canary Islands. Despite previous indications that the Nova Scotia sanctuary was the preferred relocation site, French Minister Mathieu Lefevre clarified that Marineland Antibes considered the orcas their private property and did not wish for a transfer to Canada.
CEO Charles Vinick of the Whale Sanctuary Project expressed disappointment over the decision, citing concerns about the continued use of whales and dolphins for entertainment and breeding at Loro Parque. Vinick emphasized the importance of upholding the intent of the 2021 French law, which aims to phase out such practices.
Construction plans for the sanctuary in Nova Scotia are ongoing, but the signing of a 20-year Crown lease and the acquisition of federal permits for whale transfers are still pending. Despite these challenges, the group remains committed to completing the sanctuary and providing long-term care for whales transitioning from captivity. They aim to create a sanctuary that not only supports whales in need globally but also aligns with the evolving shift away from captivity in various governments and institutions.
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