Orcas and dolphins trapped in closed marine park
Listen to the story (American accent)
Two orcas were recently filmed in a marine park in France. The park, Marineland Antibes, closed on January 5. The park closed because France banned dolphin and whale shows in 2021.
The two orcas are 23-year-old Wikie, and her 11-year-old son, Keijo. They are trapped in their pool, which has a lot of algae now. Twelve dolphins are also trapped at the abandoned park.
Animal rights groups are worried about the orcas' health and safety. They have shown videos of the orcas to try and get help from the French government.
The animal rights group TideBreakers said the orcas need to move because their living area is not safe.
However, there have been problems when trying to move the orcas. The French government did not allow them to move to a marine park in Japan. Officials in Spain did not want to take the orcas. They said their park did not have enough space for the animals.
The Whale Sanctuary Project wants to move Wikie and Keijo to a sanctuary in Canada. They say this could be the only choice now. This group sent a plan to the French government before, but it was not accepted. In their new plan, they say the sanctuary in Canada would give the orcas more space than a pool in a marine park.
Marineland park managers said the orcas must leave soon for their own safety. It is very important to move the animals to a place that is ready to take care of them.
The orcas cannot be put into the sea because they were born in the park. They might not live long if they were in the wild.
Vocabulary28 words
- Orca
- a large black and white sea mammal, also known as a killer whale
- Recently
- Not long ago
- Film
- To record video with a camera
- Marine park
- A special park where ocean animals like dolphins and whales live and people visit
- Banned
- not allowed; stopped; forbidden; prohibited;
- Dolphin
- A smart, friendly ocean animal that swims and jumps; ?
- Whale
- A very big animal that lives in the ocean, like a giant fish, but breathes air; ?
- Show
- A performance/event where animals, people and/or machines do something exciting or interesting that people want to watch
- Trapped
- stuck; closed in; can’t escape; can’t go away
- Pool
- an area of still water; swimming pool; similar to a big bathtub ?
- Algae
- A type of plant that grows in water and can make its own food from sunlight;
- Abandoned
- When something or someone is left behind or deserted; when something is not used anymore
- Animal rights group
- a group or organization that wants to help and protect animals
- Worried
- Feeling nervous or concerned; having a feeling that something bad happened or will happen
- Show
- To display or present something; to share; to let people see something
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Allow
- permit; let; to give permission; OK
- Official
- a person who works for the government or a government company and has power or authority; officer; executive
- Enough
- Having what is needed or sufficient; plenty; a good amount; abundant
- Sanctuary
- A safe and protected place; A place where animals are protected and cared for
- Choice
- a decision between two or more things; option; possibility; something you can choose from
- Plan
- A detailed idea or strategy to reach a goal; a method, idea or process to achieve a goal;
- Accepted
- To agree to something or let it happen
- Manager
- the person in charge; boss; supervisor;
- Take care of
- To look after someone or something to make sure they are safe and healthy; to help someone or something stay alive
- Sea
- the big body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth
- Born
- To come out of a mother's body as a baby
- Wild
- Living in a natural state, not kept or controlled by humans; Not in a zoo or someone's home; where animals live freely
Quiz
Answer key
1. France 2. The Whale Sanctuary Project 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Two orcas were _____ filmed in a marine park in France. The park, Marineland Antibes, closed on January _____ . The park closed because France banned dolphin and whale _____ in 2021.
The two orcas are 23-year-old Wikie, and her _____ -year-old son, Keijo. They are trapped in their pool, which has a _____ of algae now. Twelve dolphins are also trapped at the abandoned _____ .
Animal rights groups are _____ about the orcas' health and safety. They _____ shown videos of the orcas to try and get help from the _____ government.
The animal rights _____ TideBreakers said the orcas need to move because their _____ area is not safe.
However, there have been _____ when trying to move the orcas. The French government did not _____ them to move to a marine park in _____ . Officials in Spain did not want to take the _____ . They said their park did not have enough _____ for the animals.
The Whale Sanctuary Project wants to _____ Wikie and Keijo to a sanctuary in Canada. They say this _____ be the only choice now. This group _____ a plan to the French government before, but it was not _____ . In their new plan, they say the sanctuary in Canada _____ give the orcas more space than a pool in a _____ park.
Marineland park _____ said the orcas must leave soon for their own _____ . It is very important to move the animals to a place that is ready to _____ care of them.
The orcas cannot be put into the _____ because they were born in the park. They might not _____ long if they were in the wild.
Discussion questions
- Do you think marine parks should keep orcas and dolphins for shows? Why or why not?
- If you were the manager of Marineland, what would be your biggest worry for the orcas right now?
- Why do you think it is difficult to find a new home for these orcas?
- Do you think it is better for animals like orcas to live in a sanctuary or in the wild, if they were born in a park?
- What do you think people can do to help animals that are in situations like Wikie and Keijo?
Common questions
Why are there orcas in the closed Marineland Antibes park?
Marineland Antibes in France closed on January 5 after France banned dolphin and whale shows in 2021. Two orcas — 23-year-old Wikie and her 11-year-old son Keijo — and twelve dolphins remained in their pools after the park shut.
What condition are the abandoned orcas in?
Animal rights groups such as TideBreakers have published videos showing the orcas in a pool with growing algae, and are asking the French government to move the animals because of concerns about their health and safety.
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