It may be a cruel irony that a dead whale washed ashore in December in Wine Harbour, NS, about two kilometers from a proposed whale sanctuary is once again correcting its timeline.

For years, the Whale Sanctuary Project hoped to retire orcas, belugas and the like from marine parks to an enclosure on Nova Scotia’s east coast.

Whale Sanctuary Project CEO Charles Winnick said the US-based charity had at one point hoped 2024 would be that year.

“We’ve constantly put ourselves in a position to be as prepared as possible because the whales need us and need the sanctuary,” Winnick said in an interview after visiting Nova Scotia in December.

He said that we have submitted everything that the provincial and federal government wants to see from us.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources, and Transport Canada are working together on regulatory considerations for the project.

“If a cetacean transfer request is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Nova Scotia Introduction and Translocation Committee to assess any potential environmental, disease and genetic risks,” DFO spokeswoman Christine Lyons said in a statement. Will take.”

The charity is looking to make a case for two orcas to become new caretakers in France.

“So we’re hoping that’s the case, but it’s up to the French government to decide where these animals can go,” Vinck said.

The orcas are now at Marineland Antibes, which will close permanently on Monday. The park has until December 2026 to divest from the whales, according to a national law passed in 2021.

2 options for orcas

A report provided to the French government recommended that a permit be issued to take the whales to a proposed sanctuary in Nova Scotia.

The alternative is to move the orcas to Spain’s Loro Park where they will live in a pond. In November, France’s environment minister said she would not approve the transfer of the animals to Japan’s aquariums due to concerns over distance and lagging behind animal welfare laws.

Javier Almonia, director of the Loro Parque Foundation, said, “Our interest in keeping these animals is just as Loro Parque has done for many years with any animal in need of a home. We are happy to help in any way we can.” ” .

Almonia said natural water sanctuaries cannot guarantee better welfare for animals that have previously lived in controlled environments.

Criticism of the multiple orca deaths in Loro Park, including by the Whale Sanctuary Project, is unwarranted, he said. He said that the deaths are not related to animal welfare.

Almunia said, “If you have living orcas in a sanctuary, sooner or later you’re going to have to die in an orcas sanctuary. So I don’t think it’s a problem.” There really is an argument,” Almunia said.

In contrast, Winnick said the animals would be better off in a shelter. If approval is granted, he said the pair could arrive at a safe haven in Barrachois Cove sometime in 2025.

‘But most importantly fundraising’

“It certainly depends not only on the rest of the work we have to do, but most importantly on fundraising.”

According to Winnick, the first phase of the project will see the whales live in a pen. He said the charity is looking for ways to cut costs, but was not ready to provide CBC News with a fundraising goal or progress.

“We are making really good progress,” he said.

“If we get approval from the French government for these two orcas to come to Nova Scotia, that will help with fundraising.”