'World's loneliest orca' swims along in tiny pool after tragic death of partner

27 October 2023 , 21:58

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'World's loneliest orca' swims along in tiny pool after tragic death of partner

A horrifying video shows an orca - the ocean’s apex predator - swimming in a tiny pool at an aquarium in Argentina.

The 35-year-old whale, known as Kshamenk, has lived in captivity at Mundo Marino since 1992 when he was caught in the wild. He had a mate, known as Belen, but she died in 2000, leaving the lonely orca alone. Now a new video shared online shows the orca in a tiny pool at the marine site. He appears very still, floating in the middle of the pool, as a dolphin swims around him. In the wild, Kshamenk would swim anywhere up to 140 miles in a single day as they swim huge distances over the course of a year.

Kshamenk has lived in captivity since 1992 (Jam Press Vid/@walrus_whisperer)

Animal activist and co-founder of UrgentSeas, Phil Demers, visited the park where he allegedly filmed the footage to share knowledge of the lonely orca’s troubling existence. Phil from Canada, said: "Kshamenk was captured from the wild and brought to the park to accompany another Orca, Belen Sadly, Belen died in 2000 after pregnancy complications, leaving Kshamenk to live with only two dolphins.

"His sperm has been sold several times to SeaWorld to impregnate orcas. The Argentina government refuses to release Kshamenk or export him out of the country. He appears to be losing weight and is more lethargic in recent videos causing growing concerns for his well-being. Unless Kshamenk is rescued soon, he too will die tragically and senselessly. We must fight for Kshamenk!"

The lonely orca moving between tanks (Jam Press Vid/@walrus_whisperer)

Phil Demers captured the video during a visit to the park (Jam Press/@walrus_whisperer)

Phil put the video up on his Instagram page. The post has had more than 13,135 likes, as well as 1,290 comments from shocked users. In the video, which was filmed on 25 Kshamenk can be seen in a small, round pool, barely big enough to fit his size. Another singular dolphin can also be seen in a murky, green pool.

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Phil added: "A campaign to outlaw his current captivity is gaining momentum in Argentina by local activists, so bringing awareness and sharing his story surely supports their efforts. It breaks my heart to see Kshamenk's conditions. He needs to be rescued."

Someone else commented: "Imagine being locked in a white padded room for 50 years since you were a baby. No education. This is a jail. Solitary confinement." Ana wrote: "This is so sad and heartbreaking. Immoral to the highest degree. Free Kshamenk and globally ban damn parks, already. There are literally thousands upon thousands of other things to do than spend ticket money on these hell holes.”

Antony Clements-Thrower