Kshamenk is one of the most abused orcas in the world. He lives in Mundo Marino, Argentina, without the company of other orcas. He does have the company of dolphins, but that can’t replace the company of his own species. As you can see, he lives in disgustingly small, rounded tanks that don’t allow him to express natural behaviour. The tanks are so small that he can’t swim straight.
Mundo Marino has claimed that they saved Kshamenk and 3 other orcas from being stranded, however, this is not the case. Boats chased him and three others with nets until they were forced to beach themselves as they entered shallow water. This was so they could be captured easily.One was release as it was too big for transport. Another died during transport, and another smashed their head against the wall until it died. Kshamenk was the only one remaining from this brutal capture.
Kshamenk used to live with a female orca called Belen. Their first calf was stillborn, and Belen died during her second pregnancy 15 years ago.Belen was lethargic and unwilling to participate in shows before her death. Kshamenk would never see another orca again after Belen died. He has become incredibly stressed and frustrated without Belen. He is hostile towards trainers and wants nothing to do with them, and he is a danger to the dolphins. He hasn’t made bonds with any of the trainers.
He has shown aggressive behaviour towards the dolphins before, and he has even tried to mate with one of them, a female bottlenose called Floppy. This behaviour is not natural and it’s extremely dangerous to the dolphins. He is a transient orca and he could easily kill a dolphin if he wanted to.
Seaworld has also participated in the abuse of Kshamnek. Trainers from seaworld had traveled to Argentina to train Kshamenk for artificial insemination. Kshamenk has fathered two of SeaWorld’s orcas, Makani and Kamea. Seaworld isn’t helping, they aren’t showing any concerns and by doing trade with Mundo Marino, they’re telling them that they think Kshamenk’s conditions are okay.
Today, Kshamenk is aggressive,sexually frustrated, and uncooperative, as a result of his confinement and isolation from other orcas. The emotional torture this orca has endured has taken it’s toll.
We have to save Kshamenk. He can’t perform any natural behaviours, he is aggressive towards humans and his dolphin companions, and he hasn’t seen another orca for 15 years. He needs our help, or he will die in a tiny, shallow, circular pool, without another orca by his side. No orca should live this way, and we can’t let him die without giving him a happy ending.
Here are some petitions to save Kshamenk (sorry for the ugly links):
https://www.change.org/p/presidente-director-rehabilitate-and-release-kshamenk-back-to-the-wild
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/843/266/179/free-kshamenk-the-orca-from-his-cruel-tormentors/
https://www.causes.com/actions/1720128-retirement-for-kshamenk-the-orca
*please tell me if there is any wrong information, or if you have anything to add. Of I have used your photo and you don’t want it used, tell me and I’ll take it down*
