These abandoned orcas in a French marine park are running out of time and every option looks grim – Times of India

Report on the Status of Orcas at Marineland Antibes and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report details the critical situation of two orcas, Wikie and Keijo, confined at the now-closed Marineland Antibes in France. A 2021 French law aimed at improving animal welfare has inadvertently created a crisis, leaving the animals in deteriorating conditions with limited viable options for relocation. This case highlights significant challenges in the practical application of policies related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Legislative Progress and Unintended Consequences for SDG 14: Life Below Water

The 2021 Animal Welfare Law: A Step Towards Responsible Consumption

In 2021, France enacted landmark legislation banning the use of cetaceans in live shows and captive breeding programs. This law represents a significant advancement in aligning national policy with ethical consumption patterns, a core principle of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). By phasing out the exploitation of marine mammals for entertainment, the law aimed to strengthen protections for marine biodiversity, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

The Resulting Impasse and Environmental Degradation

The law mandated the closure of Marineland Antibes and required the transfer of all cetaceans by December 2026. While nearly 4,000 animals were relocated, two orcas remain. Their current living conditions are in direct conflict with the conservation goals of SDG 14.

• Deteriorating Habitat: The orcas are held in stagnant, algae-filled tanks within a crumbling facility, posing a direct threat to their health and well-being.
• Lack of Stimulation: The intelligent and social animals are subjected to isolation and minimal stimulation, conditions contrary to the ethical treatment of sentient marine life.
• Increased Mortality Risk: The recent deaths of two other orcas at the facility—one from a bacterial infection and another from ingesting metal from the tank—underscore the urgent health risks and the failure to provide a safe, sustainable environment.

Institutional Failures and the Pursuit of Justice under SDG 16

Public Awareness and Institutional Accountability

The plight of Wikie and Keijo was brought to global attention through covertly obtained footage, which documented the poor water quality and the animals’ lethargy. The subsequent public outrage highlights the role of civil society in holding institutions accountable. However, the situation reveals a critical gap between legislative intent and effective implementation, a key challenge for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). While the law is a product of a strong institution, its failure to ensure a safe and timely transition for the affected animals represents a miscarriage of justice for them.

Analysis of Relocation Options and Barriers to a Sustainable Solution

Evaluating Pathways Forward

The search for a new home for Wikie and Keijo has exposed a lack of viable, sustainable options, requiring urgent international cooperation as envisioned in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The primary options considered are fraught with complications:

1. Transfer to a Seaside Sanctuary: The Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia is considered the most ethical option, aligning with SDG 14 by providing a more natural environment. However, its development is incomplete and requires substantial funding, presenting significant logistical and financial barriers.
2. Relocation to an Existing Facility: A proposed transfer to Loro Parque in Spain was rejected by a Spanish scientific agency, which concluded the facility lacked the necessary standards to accommodate more orcas. This decision upholds high welfare standards but also highlights the global shortage of adequate facilities.
3. Release into the Wild: This option is considered high-risk for long-term captive animals who lack survival skills. The precedent set by Keiko, the orca from “Free Willy,” who survived only a short time after release, suggests this is not a sustainable conservation strategy.
4. Inaction or Euthanasia: The grimmest possibilities include leaving the orcas in their current state until the 2026 deadline or until their health fails. This outcome would represent a complete failure to uphold commitments to SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), prioritizing financial convenience over the protection of biodiversity.

Conclusion: An Urgent Call for Collaborative Action

The case of Wikie and Keijo serves as a critical test of the global community’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. The failure to secure a safe future for these animals reflects a systemic breakdown in planning, implementation, and international partnership. A sustainable and ethical resolution demands immediate, collaborative action from governments, conservation organizations, and scientific bodies to fulfill the promise of SDG 14 and ensure justice for all forms of life.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This goal is central to the article as it focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources. The article’s entire subject is the welfare of orcas, which are marine mammals. The issues of their confinement in deteriorating, poor-quality water tanks, the legal mandate for their relocation, and the potential options for their future (sea sanctuaries or release into the wild) directly relate to the protection of marine life.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  While orcas are marine animals, SDG 15 is also relevant as it aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. The principles of this goal, specifically protecting threatened species and halting biodiversity loss, apply here. The article highlights the plight of a specific species threatened by its man-made environment and the urgent need for action to prevent further harm or death, aligning with the goal’s focus on protecting all forms of life and preventing the extinction of species due to human activity.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant because the situation described in the article is a direct consequence of a legal and institutional action. The 2021 French law banning cetaceans in live shows is an example of an institution creating a framework for justice and animal welfare. However, the article exposes the challenges in the law’s implementation, highlighting a lack of effective planning and accountability that has led to a crisis for the remaining orcas. The role of activists, journalists, and other authorities (like the Spanish scientific agency) in holding institutions accountable and pushing for a just outcome for the animals connects directly to the themes of this goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Targets under SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

  • Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts…” The article describes the orcas’ current habitat as “stagnant, algae-laden tanks” in a “crumbling park.” This is a severely degraded artificial ecosystem. The efforts to move them to a more suitable environment, like the proposed seaside sanctuary, are actions aimed at protecting these marine animals from the significant adverse impacts of their current confinement.
  • Target 14.5: “By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas…” The discussion of transferring the orcas to the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia directly relates to this target. Such sanctuaries are a form of marine conservation area designed to protect marine life in a more natural environment than a concrete tank.

• Targets under SDG 15 (Life on Land)

  • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The article is a call for urgent action to save Wikie and Keijo from their deteriorating habitat. The deaths of two other orcas (Moana and Inouk) in the same facility due to infection and ingesting metal from the infrastructure are stark examples of the failure to protect these animals, highlighting the urgency required to prevent further loss.
  • Target 15.7: “Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species…” While not about poaching, this target’s principle of ending the exploitation of wildlife is relevant. The French law that created this situation was designed to end the commercial use of cetaceans in live shows, which is a form of exploitation. The article deals with the consequences of ending this practice.

• Targets under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

  • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The entire scenario is framed by the 2021 French law. The article explores the gap between the law’s intent (animal welfare) and its practical outcome, showing a challenge in its implementation. The efforts of activists and journalists are aimed at ensuring justice for the orcas as intended by the rule of law.
  • Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.” The article implicitly critiques the lack of an effective and accountable plan for relocating the orcas following the park’s closure. The fact that the animals remain in a deteriorating facility with the deadline approaching suggests a failure in institutional planning. Conversely, the Spanish scientific agency’s rejection of the Loro Parque transfer based on standards shows an institution attempting to be accountable.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

  • Water Quality: The article explicitly describes the water as “stagnant, algae-laden” and “visibly discoloured.” These descriptions serve as qualitative indicators of the poor health of the orcas’ artificial marine environment, directly measuring the failure to meet Target 14.2.
  • Status of Marine Sanctuaries: The article mentions that the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia is “not operational yet.” The number of operational and funded sanctuaries for cetaceans can serve as a quantitative indicator for progress towards Target 14.5.

• Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

  • Mortality Rates of Captive Species: The article states that in the last 18 months, two other orcas died: “Moana died of a bacterial infection, and her brother, Inouk, died after ingesting metal.” This mortality rate is a direct and grim indicator of the failure to protect threatened species in captivity (Target 15.5).
  • Number of Animals Relocated: The article notes that “Nearly 4,000 animals were relocated,” but two orcas remain. This number can be used as an indicator to track the progress and completion of the relocation efforts mandated by the law.

• Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

  • Implementation of National Legislation: The existence of the 2021 French law is an indicator of institutional action. However, the article’s focus on the approaching December 2026 deadline with no solution in place for the orcas serves as an indicator of a failure in the timely and effective implementation of this law (Target 16.6).
  • Public Engagement and Awareness: The article mentions that videos of the orcas gained “millions of views” and created a “social movement.” This level of public engagement, measured through social media reach and activism, can be an indicator of public demand for institutional accountability and justice (related to Target 16.3).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com