A distressing timelapse reveals a captive killer whale lying motionless in a small pool at Argentina’s largest aquarium.
Kshamenk, known as the ‘world’s loneliest orca,’ was captured in a video staring at a gate in the water for 24 hours straight at Mundo Marino, an oceanarium in Argentina.
Shocked visitors have accused the park of confining the killer whale in cramped conditions with limited movement and complete isolation from other whales of its species.
A 24-hour timelapse recorded by the campaign group UrgentSeas on August 12 reveals Kshamenk lying motionless with his face directed towards the enclosure’s gate, seemingly pleading to be released.
Kshamenk, previously known as ‘the world’s loneliest orca,’ was first brought to Mundo Marino in 1992 after being captured off Samborombón Bay on the Buenos Aires coast.
According to the aquarium, the three-year-old orca was discovered beached on the bay by three fishermen, along with three other killer whales.
Kshamenk was then brought to his concrete tank at the aquarium, where he has lived for the past 32 years.
His tankmate Belen passed away in 2000 at the age of 13, leaving Kshamenk to spend the last 24 years in complete isolation from his own species.
UrgentSeas, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending marine captivity, is campaigning to free Kshamenk and relocate him to an open sanctuary where he can socialize with other orcas.
He is now the last captive killer whale in Argentina.
A spokesperson from the organization stated, “We are collaborating with Argentine activists and members of Congress to shine a light on and address the cruelty of his situation.”
“He needs to be removed from his small concrete tank and reunited with other members of his species before it’s too late.”
