E60: The Last Captive Orcas in France
In a push to ban animal cruelty, laws have been passed against keeping orcas in captivity. For two orcas in France, Wikie and Keijo, this has left them in limbo after Marineland’s closure in January 2025.
Become part of the Corrupt Crew! Head over to our Patreon for exclusive content, or back us with a one-time PayPal boost!
patreon.com/CorruptPodcast
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/ABXKFYMSYLY5Y
The Whale Sanctuary Project: https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/donate/
Don't miss out on new Corrupt content! Follow us at:
Website: https://corruptpod.podbean.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corrupt.podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568193395303
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@corrupt.podcast
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CorruptPod
Send case suggestions and feedback to: [email protected]
Sources for this episode:
Cecco, Leyland. “‘It’s Heartbreaking’: How 30 Captive Beluga Whales Have Become Pawns in Row over Animal Cruelty | Canada | The Guardian.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 26 Nov. 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/26/canada-captive-beluga-whales.
Fischer, Sofia. “New Orca Death in French Marine Park Raises Questions over Animal Welfare.” Le Monde.Fr, Le Monde, 30 Mar. 2024, https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/03/30/orca-s-death-in-europe-s-biggest-marine-park-raises-questions-over-animal-welfare_6666804_7.html#.
“Forensic Report on Orcas: 84 Pages of Platitudes despite Dysfunctions at Marineland - One Voice.” One Voice, https://www.facebook.com/onevoiceanimal, https://one-voice.fr/en/news/forensic-report-on-orcas-84-pages-of-platitudes-despite-dysfunctions-at-marineland/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSome%20major%20dental%20procedures%20were,it%20is%20quite%20simply%20catastrophic.%E2%80%9D. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
“Https://Awionline.Org/Content/Cetacean-Anti-Captivity-Legislation-and-Laws.” Animal Welfare Institute AWI, https://awionline.org/content/cetacean-anti-captivity-legislation-and-laws. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Kelley, Tamara. “L Pod’s Historic Return to Penn Cove — Orca Conservancy.” Orca Conservancy, Orca Conservancy, 25 Nov. 2024, https://www.orcaconservancy.org/blog/l-pods-historic-return-to-penn-cove.
“Killer Whale Education and Conservation Program | SeaWorld Orlando.” Visit with Purpose: SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego & San Antonio, https://seaworld.com/orlando/commitment/killer-whales/#:~:text=In%202016%2C%20SeaWorld%20announced%20that,last%20generation%20at%20our%20park. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Lialios, Giorgos. “Greece Split over Hosting France’s Captive Marine Mammals | EKathimerini.Com.” News from Greece and the World | EKathimerini.Com, 22 Aug. 2025, https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/environment/1278657/lipsi-island-becomes-stage-for-orca-tug-of-war/.
“Moana, a Young Orca in a Pitiful State of Health at Marineland in Antibes - One Voice.” One Voice, https://www.facebook.com/onevoiceanimal, https://one-voice.fr/en/news/moana-a-young-orca-in-a-pitiful-state-of-health-at-marineland-in-antibes/. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
“Moana Dead at Marineland d’Antibes in France | Dolphin Project.” Dolphin Project, 18 Oct. 2023, https://www.dolphinproject.com/blog/moana-has-died-at-marineland-dantibes-in-france/.
News. “French Water Park Marineland Criticised after Killer Whale Dies - BBC News.” BBC News, BBC News, 13 Oct. 2015, https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-34515872.
“One Dolphin’s Story – Valentin | Dolphin Project.” Dolphin Project, 4 Nov. 2015, https://www.dolphinproject.com/blog/one-dolphins-story-valentin/#:~:text=Quick%20Facts,2015;%20intestinal%20torsion%20(preliminary).
“Orca Moana Dies Suddenly at Marineland - Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA.” Home - Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA, Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA, 5 Nov. 2025, https://us.whales.org/2023/10/23/orca-moana-dies-suddenly-at-marineland/.
“---.” Home - Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA, Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA, 5 Nov. 2025, https://us.whales.org/2023/10/23/orca-moana-dies-suddenly-at-marineland/.
Reilly, Nicholas. “Animals Left in Pools of Muddy Water after Devastating Flash Floods | Metro News.” Metro, Metro, 5 Oct. 2015, https://metro.co.uk/2015/10/05/animals-left-in-pools-of-muddy-water-after-devastating-flash-floods-5422229/#:~:text=In%20the%20stark%20photos%2C%20the,death%20of%20a%20British%20National.&text=Bernard%20Gianpolo%2C%20the%20director%20of.
reporter, Guardian. “Activists Launch Legal Action against French Marine Park over Orcas | Whales | The Guardian.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 27 Mar. 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/27/marineland-antibes-france-activists-launch-legal-action-treatment-orca-whales.
Sabrina. “The Orcas in the Marineland, Antibes.” The Dolphins, https://www.facebook.com/LaDolphinConnection, 31 July 2015, https://www.blog-les-dauphins.com/en/orcas-marineland-antibes/.
---. “The Orcas in the Marineland, Antibes.” The Dolphins, https://www.facebook.com/LaDolphinConnection, 31 July 2015, https://www.blog-les-dauphins.com/en/orcas-marineland-antibes/.
Sandeman, George. “‘Humans Are All They Know’ - Fate of Whales Uncertain as Marine Zoo Shuts.” BBC, 5 Jan. 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyvexpew8zo.
Sandeman, George, and Giulia Imbert. “‘They Don’t Belong in the Med’: Fate of Mother Orca and Son Still Uncertain.” BBC, 1 Mar. 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceqjrnjvrv4o.
sephlawless. Instagram, 7 Aug. 2025, https://www.instagram.com/p/DNE42EotuBn/.
“The Exploitation of Captive Orcas in France | Dolphin Project.” Dolphin Project, 30 June 2023, https://www.dolphinproject.com/blog/the-exploitation-of-captive-orcas-in-france/#:~:text=The%20following%20timeline%20gives%20an,for%20the%20next%20two%20years.
The Whale Sanctuary Project, Back to Nature. “Dental Damage and Decay Among Orcas at Marine Parks - The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature.” The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature, 12 Oct. 2017, https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/dental-damage-decay-among-orcas-marine-parks/.
---. “Home - The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature.” The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature, https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=website_traffic_search&utm_id=11&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19080172073&gbraid=0AAAAAovPalOI1YQNO8nSLfDt1UwHIK-T4&gclid=CjwKCAiAlrXJBhBAEiwA-5pgwgAoWs_EYqNoz1y86mD2g0CdR3y_o8CrPZQyXYrWmhmbu26qZlGb1BoCJ2IQAvD_BwE. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
---. “The Passing of Inouk - The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature.” The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature, 28 Mar. 2024, https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/the-passing-of-inouk/#:~:text=The%20death%20of%20Inouk%20comes%20just%20two,resumption%20of%20orca%20shows%20has%20been%20postponed.%E2%80%9D.
---. “The Passing of Inouk - The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature.” The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature, 28 Mar. 2024, https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/the-passing-of-inouk/.
“These Abandoned Orcas Are Running Out of Time.” The Times of India, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/these-abandoned-orcas-in-a-french-marine-park-are-running-out-of-time-and-every-option-looks-grim/articleshow/125545884.cmsv. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
“UPDATED! Parques Reunidos’ Flagship Marine Life Park Severely Damaged by Floods.” InPark Magazine, 4 Oct. 2015, https://www.inparkmagazine.com/marineland-antibes-flooding/#:~:text=At%20Marineland%20%E2%80%93%20eight%20turtles%2C%20all,%2C%20rats%2C%20and%20all%20birds.
Valentine, Syris. “14 Animals Still Stranded at French Marine Park.” Nautilus, 11 July 2025, https://nautil.us/is-the-show-finally-over-for-these-whales-and-dolphins-1223809/#:~:text=Since%20Marineland%20Antibes%20closed%2C%20almost,be%20released%20into%20the%20wild.
“Violent Incidents between Humans and Orcas in Captivity.” Free Morgan, https://www.freemorgan.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/list_of_incidents.pdf. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Detailed list of orca attacks: 1968-2010
Visser, Dr Ingrid N. Visser. “WIKIE, FEMALE ORCA WITH UNIDENTIFIED SUB-DERMAL DAMAGE, HELD AT MARINELAND ANTIBES, FRANCE.” One Voice, Aug. 2023, https://one-voice.fr/app/uploads/2024/06/rapport_wikie_gb_v3.pdf.
Visser, Ingrid N; (2023). WIKIE – Female orca with unidentified sub-dermal damage, held at Marineland Antibes, France. Report prepared for OneVoice (www.one-voice.fr) August 2023. Pp16
“We Would like to Address Several Videos Put out by a Content Creator Named Seph Lawless Regarding Marineland Canada and Marineland Antibes. Lawless Is Creating Scenarios and Posting Videos That Are Full of Misinformation. Sadly His Outreach Is Damaging Our Work and the Work of Other Activists and Advocates Desperately Trying to Resolve This Situation before These Whales Die from the Deteriorating Conditions. He’s Publishing These Videos Solely to Promote His Own Brand and Disguising Them as Advocacy, Which They Are Not. We Have Been Monitoring These Animals for Years. TideBreakers and Other Concerned Advocacy Groups Have Reached out to Lawless to Correct His Misinformation, Only to Be Blocked. He Has Claimed He Works with Canadian Advocacy Group Animal Justice. He Doesn’t. He Claimed That the French Government Wants to Arrest Him over His Videos and Trespassing in the Park. They Don’t. He Has Claimed Marineland Canada (Home of 30 Belugas the Park Threatened to Euthanize) and Marineland Antibes (Home of Wikie and Keijo) Have the Same Owner. They Don’t. The Content Creator Has Repeatedly Trespassed, Causing Stress and Agitation to the Animals Jeopardizing the Careful Work of Responsible Activists. For Example in His Latest Video Wikie and Keijo Are Clearly Being Sent on Behaviors, and the Trainers Were Cropped out for Dramatic Effect. This Individual Seems Far More Invested in Chasing Likes and Attention than in Genuinely Advocating for Wikie and Keijo or Belugas in Marineland Canada. Please Don’t Support This Hunt for Likes That Has Very Little to Do with Advocacy. | TideBreakers.” Facebook - TideBreakers, 31 Oct. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1829815227660736.
Zurick, Maura. “Orca’s Sudden Death at Theme Park Sparks Backlash - Newsweek.” Newsweek, Newsweek, 23 Oct. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/orcas-sudden-death-theme-park-sparks-backlash-1837143.
#wikie #keijo #orcas #captiveorcas #france #marineland #moana #inouk #blackfish #corruptpodcast #podcast #seaworld
