Kshamenk is a 36-year-old male orca living in captivity at Mundo Marino, a marine park in Argentina. He was captured in 1992 when he was only four years old.
For almost 25 years, Kshamenk has been kept alone following the death of his companion, Belen, in 2000.
Animal welfare groups have been worried about Kshamenk’s well-being for years. They’ve advocated for his release and right to a free life -or at least semi-free in a sea sanctuary that’s bigger than where he’s kept now.
Reports indicate that he has lost significant weight over time and often shows signs of stress. He displays behaviors like drifting at the surface for long periods, which experts say are signs of mental strain.
The Canadian animal rights group UrgentSeas has been sharing a video of the orca alone in a small tank. UrgentSeas believes he deserves a better quality of life after so many years in isolation.
There is a semi-wild sea pen in the Pacific Northwest where the orca Lolita was going to be sent before she died at 57 years old. Lolita, also known as Toki, was captured at four years old and spent over 50 years in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium in the United States.
Despite these efforts, Mundo Marino has not shown any willingness to release Kshamenk. He remains part of their performances, and there is little hope that his situation will change soon.
Mundo Marino believes it is in the orca’s best interest to spend his remaining years in captivity.
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