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Ecologist Paul Watson pressures France to keep orcas and dolphins from moving to Spain
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Environment & Climate

Ecologist Paul Watson pressures France to keep orcas and dolphins from moving to Spain

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Environmental activist Paul Watson is taking legal action in France to prevent the transfer of two orcas and four dolphins from Marineland to Spain.
  • Watson's organization, Sea Shepherd France, has offered to fund the animals' care at Marineland to avoid their relocation.
  • He urged Spain to ban marine mammal shows, citing concerns that the animals might be used for performances or breeding in Spain, violating French animal welfare laws.

Iconic environmental activist Paul Watson has initiated legal proceedings in France to block the transfer of two orcas and four dolphins from the Marineland park to Spain. Watson, a co-founder of Greenpeace and founder of Sea Shepherd, stated that Sea Shepherd France is taking action to prevent the move, which he believes violates French animal welfare legislation.

We have offered to pay 500,000 euros a year to keep them at Marineland and maintain the facilities until the sanctuary is ready, in addition to hiring the current caretakers to continue looking after the dolphins and orcas, but we still have no response.

— Paul WatsonWatson detailed his organization's financial offer to keep the animals in France.

Marineland in Antibes, closed for 18 months, plans to move the two orcas, Wiki (24) and Keijo (11), to Tenerife's Loro Parque and the four dolphins to Valencia. However, Watson's organization has made a concrete proposal to French authorities: "We have offered to pay 500,000 euros a year to keep them at Marineland and maintain the facilities until the sanctuary is ready, in addition to hiring the current caretakers to continue looking after the dolphins and orcas, but we still have no response."

Watson explained that the alternative is to relocate the animals to a natural, enclosed space off the French coast, as they would not survive in complete freedom. His organization has identified 10 potential locations for a sanctuary in France and is seeking government support. He warned about the risks of transferring the animals to Spain, stating, "We have no guarantee from Spain that the animals will not be forced into shows and breeding programs. Therefore, I consider transferring them there to be a violation of French law."

We have no guarantee from Spain that the animals will not be forced into shows and breeding programs. Therefore, I consider transferring them there to be a violation of French law.

— Paul WatsonWatson expressed concerns about the animals' welfare if transferred to Spain.

This legal offensive follows the transfer of eight dolphins from Antibes to Spain's Selwo Marina in Benalmádena in late July. Those dolphins are not expected to return to France. Watson directly appealed to the Spanish administration: "I believe Spain should also follow France's lead and ban the exhibition of cetaceans for entertainment purposes. We have to put an end to this."

I believe Spain should also follow France's lead and ban the exhibition of cetaceans for entertainment purposes. We have to put an end to this.

— Paul WatsonWatson urged Spain to prohibit marine mammal shows.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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