An orca who fatally attacked a trainer and allegedly chewed concrete out of insanity has died.
Another orca has died while being kept in captivity. Credit: Gunter Marx Photography/Getty
Keto was an orca who “suffered a lifetime of abuse,” according to the animal rights organization, PETA.
In a newly published report, it was confirmed that the killer whale had tragically passed away aged 29 after reportedly falling ill at Loro Parque in Spain where he was confined to numerous tanks throughout his lifetime.
The average lifespan for male killer whales is about 30 years, but they can live up to at least 60 years in the wild, per NOAA Fisheries.
Keto was born at SeaWorld Orlando in 1995 as a result of the company’s sordid orca breeding program – an operation that has since ended following intense backlash from groups such as PETA.
While members of Keto’s family stayed at the facility, the orca – who was only four years old at the time, was transferred to numerous other amusement parks including SeaWorld Ohio, followed by SeaWorld San Antonio.
He ended up at Loro Parque so that he could be used to breed more orcas, most of whom died when they were young. However, one of Keto’s calves, Adán, did manage to survive and remains at the park.
In 2009, things took a turn for the worse when the orca accidentally killed Alexis Martinez, a trainer at the establishment, during a session that a SeaWorld senior trainer was reportedly supervising.
After that, SeaWorld allegedly cut ties with the park and allowed them to keep the orcas, keeping them confined to small areas and also continuing to breed them between the same families.
SeaWorld cut ties with the amusement park in Spain, allowing them to keep the orcas. Credit: Matt Stroshane/Getty
Things got so bad that Keto was said to be going “insane”, allegedly chewing concrete out of frustration which permanently damaged his teeth.
In the report, the organization urged people to speak out against keeping whales and other sea creatures captive for entertainment or breeding purposes, using Keto’s tragic death as an example of why this should be a practice of the past.
“Keto never had the chance to swim great depths in the ocean or forge meaningful relationships with other members of his pod – Loro Parque and SeaWorld denied him any semblance of a natural life,” they said.
“Don’t let Keto’s death be just a number on the long list of animals who have died at marine parks – learn his story, and then take action,” they added.
Reports have claimed that more than 40 orcas and over 500 other dolphins and whales have died under the watch of SeaWorld.
Thousands of people would visit SeaWorld to watch the wild animals perform. Credit: Paul Harris/Getty
John Hargrove, a former SeaWorld Senior Trainer and author has previously opened up about the consequences of keeping wild sea animals captive.
“Confined in shallow, barren tanks with little physical, psychological, or emotional stimulation, the intelligent, sensitive animals in these parks become distressed and ill,” he wrote. “Frustrated, confused, unable to choose their own companions or swim free, they can easily turn violent, attacking other animals or severely injuring or killing their trainers…
“It’s a product of the stress and trauma they endure in this cruel, corporate money-making scheme disguised as entertainment,” he added.