Europe's biggest marine park urged to release whales in 'critical danger' after floods
KILLER whales in Europe's biggest marine park are in serious risk of dying after flash floods hit France.
The floods which hit Marineland have put the park's orcas at risk
The disaster has seen tanks contaminated by muddy and dirty water at Marineland killing turtles, rays and sharks.
Now other sea life, including orca, are said to be in a serious condition due and the park has been urged to release them.
A former trainer at Marineland, and now an animal rights campaigner, has written to the owners demanding something is done about the whales.
In the letter, John Hargrove wrote: "Marineland must do the right thing and release the orcas. The situation is perilous and their lives are in grave danger as they try to survive in a pit of muddy water.
"There is no time to waste."
Mr Hargrove was also a trainer at SeaWorld in Florida and appeared in the documentary Blackfish, which gave a horrifying account of their treatment of whales.
He also used the letter, which was addressed to the managing director at Marineland, Bernard Gaimpaolo, to condemn the French park for the conditions the orcas are forced to live in.
Muddy water from the floods has contaminated many pools in the park
A number of animals have died at the park because of the water contamination, says PETA
Firefighters at Marineland following the floods
He wrote: "It breaks my heart to hear that Valentin, Inouk, Wikie and the other orcas at Marineland whom I love and once cared for are in grave danger.
"Incredibly, the horrific water quality at the killer whale stadium today is not much worse than when I was a trainer there, when the subpar filtration system was ill-equipped to handle the volume of water and bioload of, at that time, seven orcas."
Marineland is in Antibi on the French Riviera, which has been battered by flash floods this week.
The situation is perilous and their lives are in grave danger as they try to survive in a pit of muddy water
At least 17 people have died in the storms.
Shocking images have shown the devastation in the region and photos have also been taken of what has been described as apocalyptic scenes the Marineland park.
Animal rights group PETA, which released Mr Hargrove's letter today, said some wildlife at the park has already succumbed to the disaster.
In a statement it said: "Turtles, rays, sharks and other fish have died, and marine mammals such as orcas are in critical danger as their tanks have become flooded with muddy water and the oxygenation and filtration systems have broken down."
Marineland has been contacted for comment.