William Shatner urges French president to save orcas in abandoned marine park

By Michael Lee Simpson

William Shatner has sent a passionate message to the French president, begging him to save two orcas stuck in an abandoned marine park.

They are confined in Marineland Antibes, a French marine park near Cannes which shut its doors in January 2025.

Despite ongoing efforts to relocate the animals, French authorities have yet to identify a suitable site in Europe for the orcas and have reportedly rejected a proposed move to a marine zoo in Japan.

Footage released by animal activist groups show the orcas Wikie, 23, and her 11-year-old son Keijo swimming aimlessly around the abandoned park.

Now the 94-year-old Star Trek star has joined EARTHDAY.ORG, a non-profit organization that mobilizes people to protect the planet, and recorded a video message, addressing President Macron.

He said: "We know you care, President Macron, about the plight of Wikie and Keijo, but we are asking you to act now.

"Move them to a safe and healthy location. There is not much time left to save them, and while no solution is perfect, the alternative could mean death."

“These beautiful animals may not survive much longer,” Shatner added in the exclusively obtained video.

The orcas must be relocated by December 2026 due to a national ban, but relocation efforts have stalled amid legal and logistical issues.

Shatner said the mission was reminiscent of his iconic role in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home."

He famously traveled through time to rescue whales in the 1986 film, and is now advocating for the real-life orcas.

Kathleen Rogers, president of EARTHDAY.ORG, said the organization was inspired to ask for the actor's help because of movie.

"We were all on a call discussing whether anyone had any idea how much it would cost to move the two orcas," Rogers explained.

"I said, 'The only thing I know about moving orcas is from Star Trek IV when William Shatner went into the future to save the planet by bringing back two whales from the past.'

"We suddenly, of course, moved immediately to 'how do we get William Shatner?'

"In a very short turnaround time, William Shatner was immediately engaged."

Following France's 2021 law banning the breeding and captivity of cetaceans, Marineland Antibes must relocate its marine mammals by December 2026.

The facility housing Wikie and Keijo is reportedly in dire condition.

"The facility itself is crumbling," Rogers said.

"There are groups in France using drones to look at the conditions of the facility, which is not just covered with algae, but some of the walls are collapsing."

The situation is complicated by competing interests and disagreements about the best solution.

"At one point, Spain was ready and willing to take them," Rogers said.

"That negotiation fell apart due to ongoing lawsuits over the facility’s size and necessary veterinary care."

Still, Rogers believes solutions exist if all parties can come together.

"I think number one, getting everybody at the same table because there are all these different conversations taking place," she added

"Number two, there has to be agreement on the proper facility."

Rogers specifically called on President Macron to take leadership on the issue.

She added: "He can immediately assemble the right people and solve the problem."