The two orcas still living at Marineland Antibes in France are expected to be flown to Tenerife “soon”, with their destination reportedly confirmed as Loro Parque.
Wiki, aged 24, and Keijo, aged 11, have remained at the closed French marine park since it shut its doors around a year and a half ago following changes to French animal welfare laws.
According to reports from the park, moving the two orcas will be a rather more complicated operation than transporting dolphins. Not exactly something you pop in a crate and send on the next easyJet flight.
The plan is for both animals to leave from Nice Airport and be transported by air to Tenerife. Four dolphins currently remaining at Marineland are also expected to be moved to Valencia, although dates have yet to be confirmed.
Marineland Antibes, once described as Europe’s largest marine park, closed at the beginning of 2025 after French legislation came into force banning shows involving marine mammals.
The remaining animals are still being cared for by a team of around 20 people and are fed several kilos of fish each day. The park has also said that recent heatwaves in France have not affected their health, as the water temperature can be regulated.
The proposed move to Loro Parque is likely to attract plenty of attention, particularly given the ongoing debate surrounding the keeping of orcas and other marine mammals in captivity.