Global Captive Orca Population

[Sacchi]

You may have seen this already, but its the French Governments recommendation for the France whales (its not the final decision though).

It has some more information regarding the deal between MLF and Japan;

- 2 of the whales were to be sold to Granvista, and 2 would have been on long term loan to give Marineland ongoing funds to support the park.

- They were all going to be sent to Kobe but could be moved freely between Kobe and Kamogawa for breeding.

- Loro Parque is currently the only park who wants them.

- It seems the most likely that they will be moved to Loro Parque in the autumn/winter.

 

[BlobfishBoy]

You may have seen this already, but its the French Governments recommendation for the France whales (its not the final decision though).

It has some more information regarding the deal between MLF and Japan;

- 2 of the whales were to be sold to Granvista, and 2 would have been on long term loan to give Marineland ongoing funds to support the park.

- They were all going to be sent to Kobe but could be moved freely between Kobe and Kamogawa for breeding.

- Loro Parque is currently the only park who wants them.

- It seems the most likely that they will be moved to Loro Parque in the autumn/winter.

Kobe and Kamogawa are so small already I can't imagine putting a bull like Keijo in their tanks. Now that they're 99% going to LP, they're definitely gonna look to boost their breeding program. I wouldn't be surprised if the iced expansion plans come back eventually if they get breeding back on track.

 

[Jambo]

Loro Parque makes the most sense considering they have the most available space, and are in need of another female to help balance out their pod ratio. Loro Parque is also closer, and imo has always been the best option for them if they were to be transferred out of Marineland.

There's a lot to look forward to adding a proven female to Loro Parque's pod. Breeding should be back on track quite quickly.

 

[Orca obsessed]

You may have seen this already, but its the French Governments recommendation for the France whales (its not the final decision though).

It has some more information regarding the deal between MLF and Japan;

- 2 of the whales were to be sold to Granvista, and 2 would have been on long term loan to give Marineland ongoing funds to support the park.

- They were all going to be sent to Kobe but could be moved freely between Kobe and Kamogawa for breeding.

- Loro Parque is currently the only park who wants them.

- It seems the most likely that they will be moved to Loro Parque in the autumn/winter.

I’m abit worried about Loro Parque as they have bad management and their diet they were feeding the orcas were what helped kill Skyla, Ula and Kohanna. I’m worried that Wikie and Keijo will end up like them I’m worried Wikie might have to go through what Morgan went through I feel like they should move them to a place that is still owned by Parques reunidos like Oceangraphic but alas the chances of that are very slim

 

[zoomaniac]

I’m abit worried about Loro Parque as they have bad management and their diet they were feeding the orcas were what helped kill Skyla, Ula and Kohanna.

Says who? And is there any evidence for that accusation?

 

[Orca obsessed]

Says who? And is there any evidence for that accusation?

They all died through a 18 month time span with 2 dying of twisted intestines and 1 dying of a heat condition (This was aggravated by the bad diet)
Here is a report into the deaths
CarolineL on Instagram: "Pathological study of an open Patent Ductus Arteriosus in a 20 years old killer whale Patent Ductus Arteriosus is an anatomy of the heart present at the fetal stage that closes during the first months of life. It is extremely rare in juvenile and adult cetaceans. This was diagnosed to Kohana at Loro Parque. That was the first time that this heart defect was diagnosed to a killer whale of that age and associated to a chronic systemic pathology. La persistance du canal artériel est une anatomie du cœur présent au stade fœtal qui se ferme pendant les premiers mois de la vie. Il est extrêmement rare chez les cétacés juvéniles et adultes. On a diagnostiqué cela à Kohana à Loro Parque. C’était la première fois que cette malformation cardiaque a été diagnostiquée chez un épaulard de cet âge et associée à une pathologie systémique chronique. El conducto arterioso permeable es una anatomía del corazón presente en la etapa fetal que cierra durante los primeros meses de vida. Es extremadamente raro en cetáceos juveniles y adultos. Esto fue diagnosticado a Kohana en Loro Parque. Esa fue la primera vez que este defecto cardíaco fue diagnosticado a una orca de esa edad y asociada a una patología sistémica crónica. https://www.eaam.be/_files/ugd/ba9fb6_98b7544dd3134d56873c760fbf3162f7.pdf #marineland #zookeeper #soigneuranimalier #blackfishlies #keepthetanksfull #orca #orque #killerwhale #dauphin #delfin #dolphin #seaworld #captivity #captivité #delphinarium #seaworldcares #dolphinarium #oceanografic #bottlenosedolphin #delfinario #loroparque #cautividad #cautiverio #mymarineland #blackfish is ******** Don’t #emptythetanks #boycottseaworld #dontbuyaticket #captivitykills is false"

[URL="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_7YFZ-ty7v/"]CarolineL on Instagram: "Intestinal volvulus as cause of death of 2 killer whales kept under human care In 2021, 2 orcas (Ula 3 years old & Skyla 17 years old) passed away at Loro Parque. The necropsy revealed intestinal volvulus as cause of death. In the case of Ula she had a multi drug resistant bacteria and presented chronic gastrointestinal illness prior this issue. Both individuals presented acute dullness prior to death. En 2021, 2 orques (Ula 3 ans et Skyla 17 ans) sont décédées à Loro Parque. La nécropsie a révélé une torsion intestinale comme cause de la mort. Dans le cas de Ula, elle avait une bactérie multirésistante et présentait une maladie gastro-intestinale chronique avant ce problème. Les deux individus présentaient une fatigue aiguë avant la mort. En 2021, 2 orcas (Ula de 3 años y Skyla 17 años) fallecieron en Loro Parque. La necropsia reveló una torsion intestinal como causa de muerte. En el caso de Ula, tenía una bacteria resistente a múltiples fármacos y presentó enfermedades gastrointestinales crónicas antes de este problema. Ambos individuos presentaron cansancio agudo antes de la muerte. https://www.eaam.be/_files/ugd/ba9fb6_98b7544dd3134d56873c760fbf3162f7.pdf , Loro parque #marineland #zookeeper #soigneuranimalier #blackfishlies #keepthetanksfull #orca #orque #killerwhale #dauphin #delfin #dolphin #seaworld #captivity #captivité #delphinarium #seaworldcares #dolphinarium #oceanografic #bottlenosedolphin #delfinario #loroparque #cautividad #cautiverio #mymarineland #blackfish is ******** Don’t #emptythetanks #boycottseaworld #dontbuyaticket #captivitykills is false"[/URL]

 

[BlobfishBoy]

They all died through a 18 month time span with 2 dying of twisted intestines and 1 dying of a heat condition (This was aggravated by the bad diet)
Here is a report into the deaths
CarolineL on Instagram: "Pathological study of an open Patent Ductus Arteriosus in a 20 years old killer whale Patent Ductus Arteriosus is an anatomy of the heart present at the fetal stage that closes during the first months of life. It is extremely rare in juvenile and adult cetaceans. This was diagnosed to Kohana at Loro Parque. That was the first time that this heart defect was diagnosed to a killer whale of that age and associated to a chronic systemic pathology. La persistance du canal artériel est une anatomie du cœur présent au stade fœtal qui se ferme pendant les premiers mois de la vie. Il est extrêmement rare chez les cétacés juvéniles et adultes. On a diagnostiqué cela à Kohana à Loro Parque. C’était la première fois que cette malformation cardiaque a été diagnostiquée chez un épaulard de cet âge et associée à une pathologie systémique chronique. El conducto arterioso permeable es una anatomía del corazón presente en la etapa fetal que cierra durante los primeros meses de vida. Es extremadamente raro en cetáceos juveniles y adultos. Esto fue diagnosticado a Kohana en Loro Parque. Esa fue la primera vez que este defecto cardíaco fue diagnosticado a una orca de esa edad y asociada a una patología sistémica crónica. https://www.eaam.be/_files/ugd/ba9fb6_98b7544dd3134d56873c760fbf3162f7.pdf #marineland #zookeeper #soigneuranimalier #blackfishlies #keepthetanksfull #orca #orque #killerwhale #dauphin #delfin #dolphin #seaworld #captivity #captivité #delphinarium #seaworldcares #dolphinarium #oceanografic #bottlenosedolphin #delfinario #loroparque #cautividad #cautiverio #mymarineland #blackfish is ******** Don’t #emptythetanks #boycottseaworld #dontbuyaticket #captivitykills is false"

CarolineL on Instagram: "Intestinal volvulus as cause of death of 2 killer whales kept under human care In 2021, 2 orcas (Ula 3 years old & Skyla 17 years old) passed away at Loro Parque. The necropsy revealed intestinal volvulus as cause of death. In the case of Ula she had a multi drug resistant bacteria and presented chronic gastrointestinal illness prior this issue. Both individuals presented acute dullness prior to death. En 2021, 2 orques (Ula 3 ans et Skyla 17 ans) sont décédées à Loro Parque. La nécropsie a révélé une torsion intestinale comme cause de la mort. Dans le cas de Ula, elle avait une bactérie multirésistante et présentait une maladie gastro-intestinale chronique avant ce problème. Les deux individus présentaient une fatigue aiguë avant la mort. En 2021, 2 orcas (Ula de 3 años y Skyla 17 años) fallecieron en Loro Parque. La necropsia reveló una torsion intestinal como causa de muerte. En el caso de Ula, tenía una bacteria resistente a múltiples fármacos y presentó enfermedades gastrointestinales crónicas antes de este problema. Ambos individuos presentaron cansancio agudo antes de la muerte. https://www.eaam.be/_files/ugd/ba9fb6_98b7544dd3134d56873c760fbf3162f7.pdf , Loro parque #marineland #zookeeper #soigneuranimalier #blackfishlies #keepthetanksfull #orca #orque #killerwhale #dauphin #delfin #dolphin #seaworld #captivity #captivité #delphinarium #seaworldcares #dolphinarium #oceanografic #bottlenosedolphin #delfinario #loroparque #cautividad #cautiverio #mymarineland #blackfish is ******** Don’t #emptythetanks #boycottseaworld #dontbuyaticket #captivitykills is false"

I want to say the parts of management responsible for the diet decision have been removed but I can’t confirm 100%.

 

[zoomaniac]

Sorry, maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake here.
-So the source is a message of a unknown/anonymous person on social media (in an surrounding with the smell of animal rights activists - see "#boycottseaword etc.).
-one whale died by a heart illness, but I did not see the phrases explaining a connection to wrong management and/or wrong diet/food (help/hints is/are welcome)
-two whales died because of indestinal volvulus ("Darmdrehung/Darmverdrehung" in German?), which is - according to my online research - normally based on a birth defect, correct? If so, then again I cannot see any connections to wrong management or diet.

 

[Merintia]

I’m abit worried about Loro Parque as they have bad management and their diet they were feeding the orcas were what helped kill Skyla, Ula and Kohanna. I’m worried that Wikie and Keijo will end up like them I’m worried Wikie might have to go through what Morgan went through I feel like they should move them to a place that is still owned by Parques reunidos like Oceangraphic but alas the chances of that are very slim

Oceanographic is no longer owned by Parques Reunidos, Vancouver Aquarium together with another company was given the management by the city council some years ago. Otherwise, I think is very possible they would have gone back to their initial plan of keep orcas there.

Loro Parque seems to be their only option now, what is a relief for me. I can´t imagine those animals living on the tiny enclosures at Kobe or Kamogawa. Although I wonder how they will adapt to each others.

 

[Sacchi]

Sorry, maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake here.
-So the source is a message of a unknown/anonymous person on social media (in an surrounding with the smell of animal rights activists - see "#boycottseaword etc.).
-one whale died by a heart illness, but I did not see the phrases explaining a connection to wrong management and/or wrong diet/food (help/hints is/are welcome)
-two whales died because of indestinal volvulus ("Darmdrehung/Darmverdrehung" in German?), which is - according to my online research - normally based on a birth defect, correct? If so, then again I cannot see any connections to wrong management or diet.

The information was first presented by a vet with 30+ years industry experience at the 2023 International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference. The full video of the presentation used to be online, but I can't find it at the moment. That activist Insta account just shared the information.

In the video, the vet said Loro Parque made the decision to change the diets of all 17 cetaceans at the park to an all-herring diet based on the weight of the animals rather than nutritional content of the food or calories. This caused stomach issues in all 17 animals and lead to the deaths of killer whales and bottlenose dolphins. They said Ula and Skyla's deaths were directly caused by the diet change, with Skyla being the worst effected animal.

If you go back a few pages, we talked about it at the time on here. But its far from being the only issue the park has had.

 

[BlobfishBoy]

Oceanographic is no longer owned by Parques Reunidos, Vancouver Aquarium together with another company was given the management by the city council some years ago. Otherwise, I think is very possible they would have gone back to their initial plan of keep orcas there.

Loro Parque seems to be their only option now, what is a relief for me. I can´t imagine those animals living on the tiny enclosures at Kobe or Kamogawa. Although I wonder how they will adapt to each others.

I didn’t know Oceanographic had plans to keep orcas at some point. Do you have any more info on that?

 

[Sacchi]

From what I remember, there were rumours that Valentin and Inouk were going to be moved there but the plans fell through for whatever reason. I think it was around the same time Shouka was moved to the US?.

 

[BlobfishBoy]

From what I remember, there were rumors that Valentin and Inouk were going to be moved there but the plans fell through for whatever reason. I think it was around the same time Shouka was moved to the US?.

Interesting... it's possible he would still be alive as he wouldn't have been around during the storm that ruined the park's water quality (possibly up to the modern day). Anyways thanks for the information!

 

[Jambo]

I didn’t know Oceanographic had plans to keep orcas at some point. Do you have any more info on that?

From what I remember, there were rumours that Valentin and Inouk were going to be moved there but the plans fell through for whatever reason. I think it was around the same time Shouka was moved to the US?.

Interesting... it's possible he would still be alive as he wouldn't have been around during the storm that ruined the park's water quality (possibly up to the modern day). Anyways thanks for the information!

It was in the mid 2000's I believe, soon after the facility initially opened. They were indeed supposed to receive Valentin and Inouk from Marineland, but these plans then fell through after the death of Kim in 2005. At the time I also believe both facilities were owned by the same enterprise at the time.

 

[Merintia]

I didn’t know Oceanographic had plans to keep orcas at some point. Do you have any more info on that?

Yes, in fact the dolphinarium was buildt thinking on orcas, they had to change several things, like the size of the connection doors between pools, to adapt it for the dolphins. There were many news on the spanish media on that time, and is still possible to find them through google, although all I can find is in spanish. These are interesting, maybe you can read them with Google translator:

L'Oceanogràfic espera desde hace 4 años las orcas que prometió Gerardo Camps

Las orcas llegarán al Oceanográfico el proximo año

https://www.elconfidencial.com/espa...eunidos-oceanografic-cacsa-ximo-puig_1699710/

It was in the mid 2000's I believe, soon after the facility initially opened. They were indeed supposed to receive Valentin and Inouk from Marineland, but these plans then fell through after the death of Kim in 2005. At the time I also believe both facilities were owned by the same enterprise at the time.

The situation was complicated and I´m not sure if my english will be enough to explain it, but I´ll try. Oceanographic was buildt and always have been owned by the city council, and they put the management out to tender to any company interested. Parques Reunidos got the management for ten years, with the chance to expand this time. One of the conditions for the management was that the company had to get orcas for the city. Was rumoured that that was one of the reasons why PPRR bought Marineland and Mar del Plata aquarium, to get the animals they needed. But then Kim and Sharkane died, also, PPRR wanted to receive a "renting fee" for the orcas by the council, something they refused, and finally, who knows for what exact reason, the orcas never arrived to Valencia. There were even reports between both parts for several defaults of contract, when finally the managent was given to actual company, Vanaqua.

 

[Merintia]

Keto is not doing well, according to Loro Parque, the situation is "very delicate"... Don´t sounds good

 

[BlobfishBoy]

I hope he pulls through. What are the odds this is related to the diet fiasco that occurred a few years back... Worst case scenario if Keto dies, I wonder if this will affect the December 5th court decision of the orcas of Marineland Antibes and their transfer.

 

[Jambo]

Couple of name updates:

Katenka's calf born last year was named 'Bowen'.

Dora's calf born last year was named 'Zimo'.

 

[TheOceanicHippo]

Keto is not doing well, according to Loro Parque, the situation is "very delicate"... Don´t sounds good

Unfortunately I think this situation is actually pretty serious. He has been out of shows for many weeks. And while I would love to stay optimistic, considering LP’s record I’m not too sure.

 

[BlobfishBoy]

Keto has passed away at the age of 29 years old and a necropsy will take place to determine the cause of death.

Things are looking pretty poor for LP’s orca program. Morgan may have more calves in her lifetime but I get the feeling that with Keto’s death along with all the previous orca deaths not long ago, the French courts will choose to block the transfer of the Marineland whales to LP (we’ll know for sure in two weeks). I’m unsure where they would get more whales if not from Marineland and with just one female the population is unsustainable.

Loro Parque on Instagram: " Loro Parque lamenta profundamente el fallecimiento de Keto. Con el corazón roto, compartimos la triste noticia del fallecimiento de Keto, nuestra querida orca macho de 29 años. Durante años, Keto fue un embajador excepcional de su especie, cautivando con su imponente presencia y su personalidad única. Su partida deja un vacío irreparable en nuestros corazones y en todo nuestro equipo. Para quienes lo cuidaron y compartieron cada día con él, Keto no era solo una orca: era parte de nuestra familia. Su recuerdo vivirá siempre en quienes tuvieron la suerte de conocerlo y aprender de él. Les invitamos a leer el comunicado completo en nuestro blog. El link está en nuestra bio. Loro Parque is heartbroken by the loss of Keto. With sadness in our hearts, we share the heartbreaking news about the passing of Keto, our beloved 29-year-old male orca. Since 2006, Keto was an extraordinary ambassador for his species, captivating everyone with his majestic presence and unique personality. His departure leaves an irreplaceable void in our hearts and throughout our entire team. To those who cared for him and shared each day by his side, Keto was far more than an orca—he was family. His memory will live on forever in the hearts of those who had the privilege to know him and learn from him. You can read the full statement on our blog. The link is in our bio. Loro Parque bedauert den Verlust von Keto Schweren Herzens teilen wir die traurige Nachricht vom Tod von Keto, unserem geliebten 29-jährigen Orca-Männchen. Jahrelang war Keto ein außergewöhnlicher Botschafter seiner Art und faszinierte durch seine imposante Präsenz und einzigartige Persönlichkeit. Sein Tod hinterlässt eine unwiederbringliche Lücke in unseren Herzen und in unserem gesamten Team. Für diejenigen, die sich um ihn kümmerten und jeden Tag mit ihm teilten, war Keto nicht nur ein Orca: Er war Teil unserer Familie. Diejenigen, die das Glück hatten, ihn zu kennen und von ihm zu lernen, werden ihn immer in Erinnerung behalten. Wir laden Sie ein, die vollständige Meldung in unserem Blog zu lesen. Der Link befindet sich in unserer Bio."