Two orcas from France are set to be moved to Loro Parque on Tenerife. Wikie and Keijo have thus indirectly prompted an initiative from Germany. The two orcas are to be flown from Marineland on the Côte d’Azur to the zoo in Puerto de la Cruz. The reason: French animal welfare legislation no longer permits whales to be kept in captivity. In Spain, and therefore also on Tenerife, there is no such restriction.
Two private initiatives are taking this as an opportunity to develop an alternative to transferring captive animals between different zoos. Even though Wikie and Keijo themselves will no longer benefit from this, the organisations wish to build a European marine sanctuary where dolphins and belugas, as well as orcas, can be cared for.
The concept isn’t finalised yet, but the basic framework is in place. The initiative behind it is ‚Marine Life Guardians‘, which grew out of a predecessor organisation called ‚Friends for Hope and Animals‘. The animal welfare and awareness-raising initiative is led by Janett Manitzki. The large-scale project is to be driven forward in collaboration with the communications partner «Ocean Voices Germany». Teneriffa News Manitzki said that the project was largely inspired by the news surrounding the transfer of orcas from France to Loro Parque.
German animal welfare organisation plans to build a whale sanctuary
The initiative itself traces its commitment to marine mammals back to the case of the humpback whale «Timmy». The female whale was first sighted in the port of Wismar on 3 March. Several strandings and rescue attempts led to an extraordinary media frenzy.
Following numerous failed attempts to free the animal, a complex transfer to a transport barge and an attempt to tow it towards the North Sea, the animal died in May off the Danish island of Anholt. The rescue operation remained controversial; a survey carried out in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in June revealed that the majority of respondents viewed the operation critically.
Whale conservationists want orca care that is not amusement park-style
The initiative is now planning the «European Seaside Sanctuary for Marine Mammals». It is expressly not being established as a show or zoo facility: «Our aim is a natural marine sanctuary for marine mammals that cannot be released into the wild. It is not intended to be a show facility, a dolphinarium or a breeding centre,» says Manitzki. The initiative’s concept follows the guiding principle: «We are not staging a protest. We are developing a sustainable solution.»
A further guiding principle there is that «animal welfare takes precedence over public display and commercial exploitation». Arguments in favour of admission might include the fact that a return to the wild is not scientifically justifiable. Each case of admission is assessed on an individual basis by medical and legal experts.
Initial designs show how the initiative envisages the facility. According to these plans, there will be several separate, natural-looking lagoons rather than a single shared pool. There are also plans for a large orca lagoon, at least two dolphin lagoons, a separate beluga lagoon, and dedicated areas for quarantine, acclimatisation and medical care.
Dolphin and whale rescue is still in its infancy
Incoming animals are to be admitted via a separate «service harbour» and a lock system. This would prevent boats from entering the animal enclosures directly. However, Manitzki reports that all of this is currently strictly a concept: dimensions, location, structural design and net sizing are still to be finalised and must be reviewed by marine biologists, veterinary surgeons and the relevant authorities.
The entire project is at an early stage of feasibility and development. It is expressly stated that no licence has been granted and no site has been confirmed. What is certain is that: «Our Sanctuary project is intended for overseas markets,» says Manitzki, adding that the funding has not yet been secured either.
They do not wish to «make any false promises». The timetable outlined in the concept envisages a functional plan as the next step, followed by a site assessment, a preliminary feasibility study and, only then, the actual approval and construction phase.
Delivery of orcas to Loro Parque on Tenerife will not be prevented
The «Marine Life Guardians» do not view the lagoon project as competition for existing sanctuaries. For the two orcas, Wikie and Keijo, the «Whale Sanctuary Project» in Canada was originally envisaged as a solution. However, this was subsequently ruled out due to the waters off Nova Scotia being too cold. Rather than adopting a competitive mindset, the organisation would prefer to develop an additional European perspective, says the director.
At this stage, the project is unlikely to have any practical significance for Wikie and Keijo. Their transfer to Tenerife is considered to be all but finalised. Even so, the two marine mammals remain the inspiration behind the project, even before their arrival at Loro Parque in Tenerife.
According to the initiative, whether the «European Seaside Sanctuary» will ever be built depends on the search for a suitable site, planning permission and funding. According to the «Marine Life Guardians», there is currently no specific timetable for this.
«EU initiative aims to prevent orca relocations like Loro Parque move»
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