• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
'World's loneliest orca' stares motionless at tank gate for 24 hours in heartbreaking footage

Home> News> Animals

Updated 14:42 23 Aug 2024 GMT+1Published 14:25 23 Aug 2024 GMT+1

'World's loneliest orca' stares motionless at tank gate for 24 hours in heartbreaking footage

The video was taken at Mundo Marino, Argentina's largest aquarium

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

Heartbreaking footage shows a captive killer whale laying almost motionless in a tiny pool at Mundo Marino, Argentina's largest aquarium.

Kshamenk, 35, was first brought to the site in 1992 after being captured off the Samborombón Bay.

According to aquarium, the then three-year-old orca was discovered beached on the bay by fishermen and was with three other killer whales.

Advert

Kshamenk was then taken to his concrete tank at Mundo Marino in which he has spent the last 32 years.

His tank mate Belen passed away in 2000 aged just 13, which means the last 24 years of Kshamenk's life have been spent in total isolation from his own species.

Since then, the 35-year-old orca has spent every day in a cramped, shallow pool with little room to swim around.

He is the last remaining captive killer whale in Argentina.

UrgentSeas, a non-profit organization which aims to end marine captivity, is campaigning to free Kshamenk and take him to an open sanctuary with other orcas to socialize with.

On August 12, UrgentSeas captured a heartbreaking 24-hour timelapse video which shows Kshamenk laying motionless with his face pointed directly towards the enclosure's gate as though he's wanting to be let out.

Kshamenk is kept in the same enclosure 24/7. (SWNS/@UrgentSeas)
Kshamenk is kept in the same enclosure 24/7. (SWNS/@UrgentSeas)

A spokesperson from the organization said: "We continue to work with Argentinian activists and members of Congress to try to highlight and address his cruel world.

"He needs to be removed from his tiny concrete tank and to join other members of his species before it’s too late."

UNILAD has approached Mundo Marino for comment.

Despite the 'Blackfish effect', which was a surge in awareness and activism for captive orcas after the 2013 documentary aired, Kshamenk slipped through the cracks.

The hard-hitting film documents the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and the species.

Activists are calling for the orca's release. (SWNS/@UrgentSeas)
Activists are calling for the orca's release. (SWNS/@UrgentSeas)

Tilikum the killer whale was the focus of documentary, an orca who was kept in a tank at SeaLand in Canada with two much larger female orcas who would regularly attack him.

He was later moved to SeaWorld in Orlando after he and the two other orcas at SeaLand killed a young trainer.

While in Orlando, Tilikum killed another two people - a tragedy that Blackfish looks further into.

The large mammal died from a bacterial lung infection on January 6, 2017.

Blackfish boasts a near-perfect score of 99 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and is currently streaming on Netflix, Hulu and Fubo.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS/@UrgentSeas

Topics: Animal Cruelty, News, World News, Animals

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Airport worker makes horrifying discovery in dumpster after telling woman she can't fly with pet dog
  • Scientists explain chilling reason why sharks were at the beach as horrifying footage shows attack
  • Horrifying moment orca came to viewing window with dead SeaWorld trainer in its mouth
  • Eye-watering sum Diddy paid Cassie within 24 hours of her filing abuse lawsuit against him finally revealed

Choose your content:

22 mins ago
an hour ago
  • Getty Images/Richard Sharrocks
    22 mins ago

    Man accused of receiving hundreds of free flights while posing as pilot in years long scam

    Dallas Pokornik was detained in Panama last October

    News
  • YouTube/Good Hang with Amy Poehler
    an hour ago

    Jennifer Lawrence speaks out on her ‘insane’ insult about Kourtney Kardashian’s behavior

    Jennifer Lawrence reflected on the fuss that was caused over her Kourtney Kardashian comments

    Celebrity
  • Getty Stock Images
    an hour ago

    Expert reveals the four foods that can stop your libido from crashing

    2026 New Year's resolutions are all about adding things in, not restricting and your libido will thank you

    News
  • Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images
    an hour ago

    David Beckham's former teammate accuses him of being 'obsessive' in bombshell post amid family feud

    John O'Kane played with David Beckham at Manchester United in the 1990s

    Celebrity