A controversial and unusual practice is reportedly being used at the now-closed Marineland Antibes in France: trainers are manually sexually stimulating a male killer whale to prevent him from mating with his mother.

The zoo was closed in January ahead of a new French law that will ban the use of whales in marine shows. However, the orcas—24-year-old Wikie and her 11-year-old son, Keijo—remain at the facility in southern France because the government and animal rights groups have not yet agreed on a new home for them.

A Temporary Measure in a Unique Situation

With the two orcas still sharing a pool, the risk of inbreeding is high. To manage this, trainers have undertaken the responsibility of manually stimulating the male orca, Keijo, on a monthly basis. This procedure is described as a temporary measure to manage his reproductive instincts and prevent him from attempting to mate with his mother, Wikie, until a long-term solution is found.

Footage Surfaces

The situation gained public attention after the activist group TideBreakers released overhead footage. The video appears to show two trainers standing at the edge of a pool next to Keijo as the orca lies upside down in the water. The practice has sparked significant ethical debate and highlights the complex challenges of managing captive marine mammals, especially in transitional periods.