Canada – Kiska, the loneliest orca in the world, dies in captivity in Canada. The marine mammal died on March 9, 2023, at the age of approximately 47. For the past four decades, Kiska has lived at the Ontario Marineland amusement park since 1979 after being captured in Icelandic waters.

City of detikEdu, Kiska was captured with another orca, Keiko, who had also been living at Marineland for several years. Keiko then became famous for playing the main character in the film Free Willy in 1993. But about 20 years ago, Keiko died.

Kiska breeding grounds spark controversy

According to IFL Science, the practice of keeping orcas in captivity has sparked much controversy, arguably reaching its apotheosis with the release of the documentary film Blackfish in 2012, focusing on Tilikum's plight.

Tilikum was one of several orcas kept at SeaWorld Orlando, having been sold to the park in 1991, approximately eight years after her initial capture.

This documentary caused controversy, SeaWorld then removed the orca show.

In 2019, Canada passed a law banning the keeping or breeding of whales and dolphins in captivity. However, there are exceptions for marine mammals held in captivity, as in the case of Kiska.

Regarding Kiska's death, Reuters, a spokesperson for local authorities confirmed that an autopsy was performed on Kiska's body but did not comment on the precise cause of death.

Although animal rights group Whale Sanctuary Project reported that Kiska died from a bacterial infection. According to previous reports, orcas in captivity are at risk of dying from opportunistic infections.

Orcas are social animals

A proposed whale sanctuary previously dubbed Kiska “the world’s loneliest whale.” This happened because her life was marked by tragedy, as while she was at Marineland she gave birth to five calves and they all died in infancy.

Since 2011, he has had no friends. Drone footage shows he was swimming alone.

Orcas are known to be social animals, which has prompted animal rights activists to call for years for Kiska and other captive whales to be released into suitable retirement centers, so they can live more freely.

Cases like that of Tokitae, an aging whale that until recently appeared in an exhibit at the Miami Seaquarium, have highlighted the plight of marine mammals stranded in their native waters.

Fears of spreading disease to wild populations and the potential stress of being placed in a new environment must be weighed against ethical and moral considerations.

For Kiska, animal rights activists complain that there was never an agreement.

Camille Labchuk, executive director of CBC's Animal Justice, said learning of Kiska's condition before her death was heartbreaking because she never had the chance to be transferred to the wild. Kiska did not have the freedom he should have had.

This article was published on detikEdu with the title The story of Kiska, the loneliest orca in the world who died at the age of 47

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