One Voice is bringing Marineland in Antibes to justice for Moana and Inouk. The hearing is on 25 May in Grasse
One Voice is bringing the dolphinarium to justice for the orcas at Marineland in Antibes. The hearing is at the Grasse Legal Tribunal on 25 May 2022 at 8:30am.
We have done everything we can to offer another life to Moana and Inouk, two of the four orcas being kept at Marineland in Antibes and whose state of health is very worrying. And we will keep going! After our campaigns to avoid them being transferred to China, our investigations and rallies, and, finally, the publication of expert reports following the complaints already under way for all French orcas, One Voice is now bringing the park to justice. The hearing will take place at the Grasse Legal Tribunal on 25 May 2022 at 8:30am.
The goal of our proceedings: to obtain an independent expert’s opinion
The objective of these interim proceedings is to obtain the appointment of an expert whose mission will be to establish a clinical assessment of Moana and Inouk’s state and of the conditions they’re being kept in, and to retrieve a number of official documents for this purpose.
In this case, the expert will specifically have to determine whether the state of health of Moana and Inouk allows them to participate in performances, determine whether the water quality and the establishment are capable of guaranteeing the well-being of these orcas, and to carry out all necessary tests.
Damning reports
This request for an expert is based on damning reports on Moana, who has markings on her skin which could be a sign of a serious disease, by New Zealand Marine Biologist Dr Ingrid Vissier who specialises in cetaceans, and on Inouk whose dental condition is one of the worst in all captive orcas worldwide.
The importance of respecting orcas and getting them out of dolphinariums
The animals belong to world heritage, as our guidance to the courts likes to remind us. In fact, without animals in the wild, we are robbing our children of these fantastic creatures who populate our planet alongside them.
And with regard to orcas, dolphins, and whales in particular, experts have reported on their sentience. The UN echoed this statement about the need to protect their cultures. In India, dolphinariums have incidentally been forbidden since 2013.
Complaints still under way
As a consequence of these reports, we have filed two complaints before the Grasse Prosecutor against the dolphinarium that is keeping them. On 8 April 2019 for Inouk and 12 November 2021 for Moana: for acts of mistreatment towards animals placed in Marineland’s custody, the placement or keeping of a wild captive animal in a habitat, environment, or establishment that may be the cause of suffering, and the illegal operation of an establishment keeping non-domestic species of animals.
These complaints are still under way. However, the urgency of the situation requires interim measures to be taken in order to limit the distress of these animals.
In addition, Inouk and Moana’s cases are not isolated cases and they question not only the quality of the care provided but also of the infrastructures and the water. We are just as worried for Wikie and Keijo. That’s the reason why a request for expert evidence has been initiated.
Inouk, 20-year-old male orca in captivity, suffering from chronic and extensive dental lesions
Expert report, March 2019
TéléchargerInouk, expert report, updated August 2020
Moana, 10-year-old male orca, born in captivity, with sub-dermal tissue damage
Report written for One Voice by (Dr) Ingrid N. Visser
Translated from the French by Joely Justice