Although there exists some legal protection for wild vertebrates, the interest for the welfare of free-living animals has lagged behind that of animals called “domesticated” and “captive” . Despite the fact that more than 60% of animal life on Earth has been eradicated , the so-called “wild”, “farmed”, and “pet” animals continue to be treated in a very different way, regardless of their similar capacity for suffering and thriving. The French law echoes this reality: in terms of animal welfare, the nature of “being sensitive” remains denied to “wild” animals . Also, considering that France has the second largest maritime domain in the world and that 95% of marine species are threatened by human activity, their representation is crucial for their study and conservation. Therefore, this period seems to be fruitful for analyzing the representation of these beings through mass media reporting , which are known to reflect public opinion, shape public debate, and affect the implementation of policies .