近日，法國一處已經關閉的海洋公園內，虎鯨母子Wikie（23歲）與Keijo（11歲）的生存狀況引發廣泛關注與憂慮。2025年10月31日，航拍者勞利斯（Lauris）使用無人機拍攝到它們漂浮在水質混濁的水池中的畫面，畫面一開始讓人誤以為它們已不幸去世，但隨著無人機嗡嗡聲的響起，母子倆似乎被吸引注意，並開始在水中游動，彷彿辨認出熟悉之物般起舞。許多網友對此表示心痛，猜測這可能是因為它們知道表演能換取更多食物，或僅是對外界刺激的本能反應。

這對母子自2025年1月海洋館關閉以來一直被困於園區之中，無法獲得自由。法國自2021年立法禁止虎鯨、海豚等水生哺乳動物用於娛樂表演，並停止圈養繁殖，此法案將於2026年12月正式生效。然而，現實問題仍然存在：母子二獸無法被立即轉移到其他設施。法國政府曾多次嘗試為它們尋找新家，但由於空間、運輸與設施限制，多次提案未能成功。送往日本的方案被拒絕，西班牙的海洋公園亦因容量不足而無法接收。航拍畫面顯示，它們所在的水池充滿綠藻與污泥，若健康狀況惡化，很可能面臨安樂死的命運。

研究表明，圈養虎鯨的死亡率是野生同類的2.5倍。在圈養環境下，它們長期承受心理壓力與無聊，常出現自殘或互相攻擊的行為。例如，一些虎鯨會啃咬水池的混凝土壁和金屬閘門，導致牙齒受損、開裂甚至腐爛。虎鯨的高智慧原本是一種與眾不同的天賦，但在被囚禁的環境中，這份智慧卻成無法逃脫痛苦與早逝的根源。

此次事件不僅引發公眾對圈養動物福利的關注，也再次凸顯法律規範與現實執行之間的落差。母子虎鯨的困境提醒人們，單靠立法禁止表演與繁殖，並不能立即改善被囚禁動物的生存環境，真正的解決方案需要考慮安全轉移、適宜棲息地以及長期福祉管理。對於Wikie與Keijo而言，時間緊迫，全球社會對它們未來命運的關注仍在持續升溫。

Recently, the survival of a mother-son orca pair, Wikie (23) and Keijo (11), in a long-closed marine park in France has drawn widespread concern. On October 31, 2025, drone footage captured by operator Lauris showed the two orcas floating in a heavily polluted, algae-filled pool. At first, it appeared as if they had already died, but moments later, the drone’s buzzing sound seemed to capture their attention, prompting the pair to swim and move in the water as if recognizing a familiar presence. Many online viewers expressed heartbreak, speculating that the orcas might associate activity or interaction with receiving food, or that their response was a natural reaction to stimuli.

Since the park’s closure in January 2025, the mother and calf have been confined with no escape. France, in 2021, passed legislation banning orcas, dolphins, and other aquatic mammals from being used in entertainment shows and prohibited captive breeding, with the law set to take full effect in December 2026. Despite this legal framework, the orcas’ situation remains precarious. The French government has repeatedly attempted to find them a new home, but logistical constraints such as available space, transportation, and facility readiness have hindered relocation. Proposals to move them to Japan were rejected, and marine parks in Spain could not accommodate them due to limited capacity. Drone footage now shows their pool filled with algae and sludge, and if their health deteriorates, they may face the prospect of euthanasia.

Research indicates that captive orcas have a mortality rate 2.5 times higher than their wild counterparts. In captivity, they often experience extreme stress and boredom, which can lead to self-harm or aggression toward each other. Some orcas chew on concrete walls and metal gates until their teeth are damaged, cracked, or decayed. What is naturally a remarkable intelligence in orcas has, under these conditions, become a source of suffering and premature death.

This incident has not only reignited public concern over the welfare of captive marine animals but also highlighted the gap between legislation and practical implementation. The plight of Wikie and Keijo demonstrates that merely banning performances and breeding is insufficient to immediately improve the living conditions of confined animals. Effective solutions require careful consideration of safe relocation, suitable habitats, and long-term welfare management. For the mother and calf, time is critical, and global attention to their fate continues to grow.