France rejects plan to send its last 2 captive orcas to live in Nova Scotia refuge

Muzammil Hussain May 24, 2026

A female Southern Resident Killer Whale breaches in the calm blue waters of the Salish Sea between Washington State and British Columbia, Canada.

The decision marks a major setback for the privately funded Whale Sanctuary Project, which announced plans to build a 40-hectare floating enclosure near Wine Harbour, N.S., more than six years ago.

The decision marks a major setback for the privately funded Whale Sanctuary Project, which announced plans to build a 40-hectare floating enclosure near Wine Harbour, N.S., more than six years ago. A female Southern Resident Killer Whale breaches in the calm blue waters of the Salish Sea between Washington State and British Columbia, Canada.

The decision marks a major setback for the privately funded Whale Sanctuary Project, which announced plans to build a 40-hectare floating enclosure near Wine Harbour, N.S., more than six years ago.