When I was at Loro Parque in Tenerife almost twenty years ago, I stood in awe in front of a huge pool. A majestic killer whale shot out of the water, performed skilful turns and sprayed water onto the enthusiastic spectators. At the time, I was fascinated, impressed by the supposed harmony between man and animal. Today, with the knowledge of today, I am ashamed of that moment. Like millions of other visitors, I unwittingly supported an industry based on systematic cruelty to animals.
Orca Keto was one of these killer whales. He was born in captivity in 1995, far away from the endless expanses of the ocean that correspond to his nature. Keto knew no ocean, no freedom, no natural habitat. His life was restricted from birth: in a chlorinated pool, without the opportunity to swim the 160 kilometres a day that orcas can cover in the wild. Instead, he lived in a circus where he had to perform tricks to get food.
Keto's life ended on 22 November 2024 - the fourth orca to die at Loro Parque in just three years. While killer whales in the wild often live to be over 100 years old, Keto died at the age of 29. His toothache, caused by the filing down of his teeth, his constant swimming in circles and the absence of a real family made his life a nightmare.
His death is not an isolated case, but a symbol of the cruel reality that lies behind the glittering facades of dolphinaria. These facilities, which attract millions of paying guests from year to year, tell a story of joy and harmony. But the truth is different: It is characterised by isolation, suffering and a cruel business designed solely for profit.
This series of articles not only sheds light on Keto's life and tragic death, but also on the mechanisms of an industry that systematically exploits living beings. My own story and the harrowing facts about the captivity of orcas will illustrate why it is time to end these practices for good.
Keto's death is more than the loss of a single killer whale - it is a painful wake-up call for all those who campaign for animal rights. It shows with brutal clarity how far people are prepared to go to exploit animals for their own benefit and the high price the animals pay for it 1Jett, J., Ventre, J., 2015 Captive killer whale (Orcinus orca) survival. Marine Mammal Science, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12225 Accessed on 3 December 2024..
For animal rights activists worldwide, Keto symbolises the exploitation of intelligent and sensitive creatures. Orcas kept in captivity repeatedly show signs of psychological and physical stress. They swim in circles, ram the walls of the tank or injure themselves 2Rose, N. A., et al, 2009 The case against marine mammals in captivity. Humane Society International, https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-ML-CAMMIC-5th-edition.pdf Accessed on 3 December 2024.. These behaviours, which are unthinkable in the wild, are direct consequences of captivity. Keto's story epitomises all these aspects in a tragic way.
It was a product of greed for profit - born to fulfil the expectations of a paying public. Its unnatural origin from the artificial crossing of two different orca populations illustrates how little respect this industry has for the natural needs of these animals 3PETA Germany, 2024: Orca Keto dies at Loro Parque: a captive from birth, https://www.peta.de/neuigkeiten/keto-loro-parque Accessed on 3 December 2024.. The dental injuries caused by the constant chewing on metal bars are just another chapter in the long list of abuse that Keto had to endure 4Jett, J., et al, 2017 Tooth damage in captive orcas. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003996917303138 Accessed on 3 December 2024..
But Keto's life and death also have another, more hopeful side: they mobilise people. His fate shows us how important it is to tell the stories of those who have no voice. Animal rights organisations such as PETA, Pro Wildlife e.V. and others are using Keto's story to educate the public 5 Pro Wildlife e.V. via Facebook. Orca Keto recently died at the age of 29 at Loro Parque Tenerife. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=981014527388415&set= Accessed on 5 December 2024.. His story inspires protests, boycotts and a growing movement against dolphinaria and similar facilities.
For animal rights activists, Keto symbolises the need to fight for a world in which animals are no longer seen as resources. His story reminds us to take action - through education, donations or protests - and contribute to ending the exploitation of animals.
Keto was born on 17 June 1995 at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida, in a concrete tank far away from the oceans where orcas actually live. He was part of a breeding programme aimed at reproducing orcas in captivity to meet the demand for animals for shows and exhibitions. Keto's parents, Kalina and Kotar, belonged to different orca populations whose natural habitats and cultural behaviours do not harmonise. This crossbreeding was an artificial constellation that would never have taken place in the wild 6PETA Germany, 2024: Orca Keto dies at Loro Parque: a captive from birth, https://www.peta.de/neuigkeiten/keto-loro-parque Accessed on 3 December 2024..
In 1999, when he was about four years old, he was separated from his mother and relocated several times within the SeaWorld network: first to SeaWorld San Diego, then to SeaWorld Ohio and finally to SeaWorld San Antonio 7PETA Germany. Keto at Loro Parque: a prisoner from birth. https://www.peta.de/neuigkeiten/keto-loro-parque Accessed on 3 December 2024.. This practice of separating mother and calf is widespread in dolphinaria and often leads to severe psychological stress for both animals. Orcas are highly social animals whose family bonds last a lifetime. Keto's separation from his mother destroyed his opportunity to grow up in a natural social structure 8Rose, N. A., et al, 2009 The case against marine mammals in captivity. Humane Society International, https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-ML-CAMMIC-5th-edition.pdf Accessed on 3 December 2024..
In 2006, at the age of about 11, he was transferred to Loro Parque in Tenerife 9Loro Parque. Keto's Biography. https://www.loroparque.com/en/loro-parque-mourns-the-death-of-keto Accessed on 3 December 2024.. There, Keto became one of the main actors in the orca show "Orca Ocean". His performances in front of thousands of spectators were for entertainment purposes - a purpose that completely contradicted his natural behaviour and needs. Orcas in the wild travel up to 160 kilometres a day and dive to depths of more than 100 metres. In captivity, however, they spend their lives in cramped tanks that cannot even come close to satisfying this need for movement 10Jett, J., Ventre, J., 2015 Captive killer whale (Orcinus orca) survival. Marine Mammal Science, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12225 Accessed on 3 December 2024..
Keto also suffered from severe dental problems caused by chewing on metal grids and concrete walls. His teeth were regularly ground down, a procedure that is often performed without anaesthetic and leads to chronic pain. This is a common condition among orcas in captivity and affects both their quality of life and their life expectancy 11Jett, J., et al, 2017 Tooth damage in captive orcas. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003996917303138 Accessed on 3 December 2024..
Keto's life was characterised by isolation, pain and hardship. Despite his central role in the shows at Loro Parque, he was denied what an orca needs to live - freedom, family and the ocean - for the rest of his life.
Keto's life was a constant cycle of monotony, isolation and physical suffering. Every day he was forced to perform tricks and feats to entertain the paying guests of Loro Parque. These tricks, which are often sold as impressive displays of "co-operation" between humans and animals, are in fact the result of a strict reward system. Keto only received food when he performed the tricks he was taught correctly. Mistakes meant hunger - a system that breaks even the strongest-willed orca 12Jett, J., Ventre, J., 2015 Captive killer whale (Orcinus orca) survival. Marine Mammal Science, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12225 Accessed on 3 December 2024..
Physical ailments: Dental problems and restricted mobility
Keto's dental health was a clear example of the harmful conditions in captivity. Like many other orcas, he developed a habit of chewing on the metal bars and concrete walls of his tank - a behaviour that does not occur in the wild and indicates stress and boredom. This chewing behaviour was wearing his teeth down to the necks, leading to chronic pain and infection. The treatments, during which his teeth were regularly rinsed and ground down, were often carried out without sufficient anaesthesia 13Jett, J., et al, 2017 Tooth damage in captive orcas. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003996917303138 Accessed on 3 December 2024..
The confined space of the tank was another physical ailment. Orcas in the wild travel up to 160 kilometres a day and regularly dive to great depths. In captivity, they are restricted to a few metres, which not only leads to physical under-exertion, but also prevents natural social behaviour 14Rose, N. A., et al, 2009 The case against marine mammals in captivity. Humane Society International, https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-ML-CAMMIC-5th-edition.pdf Accessed on 3 December 2024..
Mental suffering: Isolation and social conflicts
Orcas are extremely social animals that live in close-knit family groups in the wild and often stay together for life. Keto, on the other hand, grew up without a stable social structure. He was brought together with orcas from other populations who spoke different "dialects" and whose behaviours differed from his. These enforced communities often led to aggressive behaviour and conflicts between the animals 15PETA Germany, 2024: Orca Keto dies at Loro Parque: a captive from birth, https://www.peta.de/neuigkeiten/keto-loro-parque Accessed on 3 December 2024..
The isolation from his mother and the lack of a real family increased Keto's psychological stress. He was forced to lead an unnatural life in complete dependence on humans - without the freedom to make his own decisions or act out his natural instincts.
The questionable practices of husbandry
Loro Parque marketed its husbandry methods as "species-appropriate" and claimed that the animals were optimally cared for. In reality, however, these claims were based on misleading representations. For example, the pools were regularly treated with chlorine to keep them clean, which often causes eye irritation in orcas. The limited size of the tanks and the lack of environmental stimuli ensured that Keto and the other orcas were forced into a life of monotonous routine - far removed from their natural environment16Marino, L., Rose, N.A., Visser, I.N., et al. (2020). The harmful effects of captivity and chronic stress on the well-being of orcas (Orcinus orca). Journal of Veterinary Behaviour, 35, 69-77. available at: https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Chronic-stress-captive-orcas-Marino-et-al-2020.pdf Accessed on 3 December 2024..
These practices were not an isolated incident, but reflect a systemic problem. They show that dolphinaria like Loro Parque do not keep animals out of love for nature, but to make a profit - often at the expense of the animals themselves. There is a simple way we can end this suffering .#fuckzoos #fckzoos Let's turn off the taps to zoos, dolphinariums, aquariums and animal shows. If nobody goes there any more, the problem will solve itself.
You don't believe me? You can't see that I want to spoil your kids' fun? It all happened too quickly for you? Me too. That's why there are two or three more articles on this topic. I've already got myself a lot of reading material because this time I want to back everything up with scientifically sound sources. If you still want to believe that the animals are doing well in cages, or if you want to ignore it and keep visiting zoos, then... Well, I wanted to end with a clever, hopeful line. I can't think of one.
